HPV vaccination now free for eligible women aged 18 to 45

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) and Temasek Foundation are now offering HPV vaccinations for free to women aged 18 to 45.

The initiative, called the Human Papillomavirus Immunisation Programme (HIP) is for women from low-income backgrounds. 

This comes after the Ministry of Health announced in 2019 that 13 year-old girls could get their HPV vaccinations for free.

SCS took note that girls and women over 13 at the time would not have the same treatment and, as such, has partnered with Temasek Foundation to remedy that. 

Only those with a valid Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Orange or Blue card can qualify for HIP. 

They must also be either between 18 and 26 and unvaccinated against HPV, or between 27 and 45 with your first vaccination before age 26. 

Those eligible can book their vaccinations at the CHAS General Practitioner clinics nearest to them. 

HIP will offer women the Cervarix vaccine, which protects against 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

The Temasek Foundation has set aside $2 million for this programme and over 20,000 women are expected to benefit.