Amid high interest in the expansion of the National Immunization Program (NIP) to include HPV vaccines, the possibility of its inclusion in 2026 has arisen in Korea.

Although the agenda is yet in the planning stage, attention is being paid to whether it can gain substance in line with the NA budget deliberation discussions next month.

The NA Audit by the Health and Welfare Committee made 12 written inquiries related to HPV or the HPV vaccine this year.

The inclusion of the HPV vaccine was mentioned in the last NA audits in 2022 and 2023, but interest in this year's audit was particularly high due to the interest of the ruling and opposition parties as the issue was included in the government's major national agenda.

In response to the NA Audit inquiry, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency answered that it had prepared the grounds for the introduction through cost-effectiveness analysis, and secured the feasibility of its introduction through priority assessment.

In fact, in the study 'Establishing a Mid- to Long-term Plan for the Introduction of NIP,' including Gardasil 9 in the NIP for 12-year-old girls was ranked third in the overall priorities, and the vaccination of 12-year-old boys with Gardasil 9 was ranked sixth.

However, regarding its future expansion plans, the KCDA provided a cautious response, saying that expanding subjects and introducing vaccines in the NIP requires a cautious approach due to the large budget investment required.

The KDCA said, “We will closely discuss the introduction plan within the government while comprehensively considering age and gender characteristics, disease burden, vaccine availability, and the budget requirements.”

However, the KCDA also provided direction on the timing of the expansion of HPV vaccination for boys in response to a written inquiry from NA Rep. Jin-sook Jeon (Democratic Party of Korea).

According to the KDCA’s “Achievements and Plans for Expanding HPV Vaccination to Boys,” the KDCA plans to secure funding for expanding the target population and introducing a new vaccine in 2025 and consider introducing a new vaccine from 2026.

If the agency secures the required funding, it is analyzed that NIP vaccination of boys for HPV may be possible in 2026.

As HPV vaccination is on the government's agenda, the KCDA agrees on the need to introduce the vaccine, and academics and experts have emphasized the effectiveness of its addition to NIP, the industry expects that there will be no major hurdles once the budget issue is resolved.

The budget issue is also likely to be resolved as the National Assembly plans to rediscuss the agency's budget cuts.

Lawmakers on the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee are expected to discuss increasing the budget for NIPs during their budget review in November.

According to the KCDA's 2025 budget and fund management proposal that it submitted in August, next year's NIP budget is 24.9% lower than this year's, but if this budget is increased, the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in NIP is likely to be discussed actively.

However, it is unclear which vaccine will take center stage even if the budget is increased, as there are currently a number of vaccines that are in need of expansion to NIP, including the shingles vaccine.

MSD Korea, which currently owns Gardasil 9, an HPV vaccine, said it will continue discussions with the government about expanding the NIP.

“We will actively engage in discussions with the government, including the KDCA, on expanding NIP for HPV vaccines,” said an MSD representative.