MOPH Announces Inclusion of HPV Vaccine in National School Vaccination Campaign

Doha, Qatar : The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), has announced the inclusion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the National School Vaccination Campaign, aimed at ensuring early primary prevention against high-risk virus strains and reducing the future health burden of related diseases and cancers.

Campaign to Cover 301 Schools, More Than 75,000 Students

MOPH held a press conference to outline the campaign's objectives, implementation mechanisms, and phases, noting that it will cover 301 government and private schools and target students in Grades 8, 9, and 10 — more than 75,000 male and female students in total.

Two-Phase Rollout Planned Through 2027

The first phase will run from September 20 through November 18, 2026, while the second phase will take place from April 25 to May 16, 2027.

Officials from Health, Education Sectors Take Part

Participating in the press conference were Director of the Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control Department at MOPH Dr. Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi; Health and Safety Consultant at MOEHE's Department of Health and Safety, Issa Ali Alansari; and Manager of the School Health Program and Services at PHCC and Community Medicine Consultant, Dr. Layla Abdulla Aldahnaim.

Vaccine Inclusion Seen as Key Preventive Step

Officials described the inclusion of the vaccine in the National Immunization Program as an important preventive step to protect students' health and strengthen community immunity, reflecting close cooperation between the health and education sectors to ensure the campaign meets the highest health and organizational standards.

Vaccine Approved by WHO, US FDA

MOPH confirmed that the vaccine is licensed and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration, with hundreds of millions of doses administered worldwide under strict safety standards. The Ministry noted the vaccine's efficacy exceeds 90 percent, with administration between ages 11 and 14 producing the strongest immune response compared to older age groups. Common side effects are limited to mild symptoms at the injection site, low-grade fever, fatigue, or mild headache, typically resolving within 24 to 48 hours.

Education Ministry to Support Rollout in Schools

MOEHE is supporting implementation of the campaign through direct coordination with schools and by providing a suitable environment for school health teams to administer vaccinations according to the approved plan. The Ministry is also backing awareness and educational efforts directed at parents and students to strengthen health awareness during the campaign.

Campaign Details by Phase

According to the implementation schedule, the first phase includes administering the first dose of the HPV vaccine to Grade 9 students in government and private schools, along with the final booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine for Grade 10 students in government schools.

The second phase includes administering the first HPV dose to Grade 8 students in government and private schools, the second HPV dose to Grade 9 students in government and private schools, and the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster to Grade 9 students in government and private schools.

Vaccination Remains Optional, Subject to Parental Consent

Vaccination is optional and requires prior consent from a parent or guardian via a designated consent form accompanied by an awareness leaflet. Students will only be vaccinated after a parent or guardian has signed the consent form, with vaccinations administered in designated school health rooms in accordance with approved health regulations.

Rollout Limited to School-Age Students

Implementation will cover all public, private, international, and community schools, and will not extend beyond the specified schools and age groups.

Source: QNA