Thailand's Minister of Public Health, Somsak Thepsutin, who also serves as the chair of the National Health Security Board (NHSB), has reaffirmed the country's commitment to preventative healthcare, particularly against preventable diseases such as cervical cancer. Since 2017, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has provided HPV vaccines to fifth-grade girls as part of its immunization program, aiming to reduce cervical cancer cases nationwide.
According to Somsak, the latest vaccination initiative involves a phased delivery plan overseen by the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO). The first batch of 100,000 doses is scheduled for delivery on November 22, 2024, followed by 300,000 doses by December 15, and the final batch of 373,500 doses by December 31, 2024. In total, 773,500 doses will be distributed to eligible fifth-grade girls.
The NHSO, in collaboration with the Department of Disease Control (DDC), has nearly completed identifying target groups and is developing a detailed vaccine distribution and administration plan. The campaign will officially begin before the end of December 2024, focusing on administering the 9-valent HPV vaccine. The program aims to complete vaccinations for all target recipients by January 2025.