HPV 9-valent vaccine available in Hainan

A nurse shows the first HPV 9-valent vaccine received by a Beijing woman at Boao Super Hospital at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan. [Photo/hi.people.cn]

A Beijing woman became the first Chinese to receive the HPV 9-valent vaccine in the Chinese mainland on Wednesday morning as the vaccine was made available in Boao, South China's Hainan province.

The HPV 9-valent vaccine, only available at Boao Super Hospital at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan for now, is specifically designed for women between the ages of 16 and 26. The price for the series of three injections is 5,800 yuan (908 dollars).

The HPV vaccine helps protect against cancers and genital warts caused by the human papillomavirus.

Individuals can receive the vaccines only by making an appointment on the telephone, as the supply is still limited. Only 6,000 vaccines in the first batch are available so far. That means it can only meet the needs of a maximum of 2,000 people.

Boao is the first place to offer HPV 9-valent vaccines in the Chinese mainland, thanks to the preferential polices it enjoys.

Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, where Boao Super Hospital is located, is the only of its kind in China that enjoys nine preferential polices, such as special permission in importing medical technology, medical equipment and medicine.

The pilot zone is allowed to import HPV 9-valent vaccines and other drugs without seeking permission via the central government's certain procedures in line with the nine preferential polices.

Every year tens of thousands of Chinese women go overseas, as far as the Unite States, to receive the vaccines due to the inadequate supply in the domestic market, according to media reports.

"The pilot zone will work with top hospitals and experts in the healthcare sector to further exploit the advantages of preferential polices to provide better service for customers right at home", said He Pengfei, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Boao Lecheng pilot zone.