Mexico Extends HPV Vaccination to Boys in 2025 Campaign

Mexico has launched its 2025 National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign, extending coverage to boys for the first time, as part of an effort to immunize more than 2.5 million children and adolescents across the country. The initiative began in Tlaxcala and is being led by the Ministry of Health.

The expansion follows the achievement of 95% coverage among girls, which until now had been the main target group. “It is a measure of equity, because this vaccine protects not only against cervical cancer, but also against other types of cancer,” says David Kershenobich, Minister of Health. “Few cancerous diseases can be prevented with a vaccine.”

HPV is a group of over 200 related viruses, with high-risk strains such as HPV16 and HPV18 responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). In Mexico, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, and the National Cancer Institute (INCan) reports that most patients begin treatment at advanced stages, when survival rates drop significantly. Early detection and vaccination are central to national prevention efforts, writes MBN. 

Under the new campaign, vaccines will be offered not only to girls and boys in fifth grade of primary school, but also to people between the ages of 11 and 49 living with HIV and adolescent girls between 10 and 19 who are survivors of sexual violence. Authorities said the goal is to ensure equal access to protection against HPV-related diseases.

The Ministry of Health has set a target of 95% vaccination coverage against preventable diseases nationwide and announced mass vaccination days in major venues, including three consecutive days at Mexico City’s Estadio Olímpico Universitario. 

Despite these advances, vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge. Mexico’s national vaccination coverage stands at 81.1%, below the 95% goal set by health authorities. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned of declining immunization rates in recent years, citing service disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and rising skepticism toward certain vaccines, including HPV. “Millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases, and that should worry us all,” says Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF.

The federal government allocated over MX$15 billion (US$880 million) in 2025 to purchase 96 million doses of 14 vaccines under the Universal Vaccination Program. However, experts stress that supply alone will not guarantee higher coverage. Rodrigo Romero, Coordinator, Mexican Association of Vaccinology, says that combating hesitancy requires collaboration among governments, health professionals, civil society, and international organizations to build public trust.

The issue is not unique to Mexico. Globally, vaccine skepticism has grown in recent years, with authorities in some countries questioning immunization practices or reducing support for vaccine development. This trend, health specialists warn, risks undermining decades of progress in controlling infectious diseases.

By broadening HPV vaccination to include boys and at-risk populations, Mexican authorities are seeking to reduce transmission, strengthen cancer prevention and reinforce equity in access. Success will depend not only on logistics and supply, but also on restoring public confidence in vaccination programs.