经济观察报·2025-09-11 06:15Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government has included the HPV vaccine in the national immunization program, allowing eligible girls to receive the vaccine for free starting this year [2][3]. Group 1: National Immunization Program Expansion - This marks the first expansion of the national immunization program in 18 years, with the HPV vaccine being prioritized for inclusion [2]. - Since 2007, the immunization program has maintained a structure of "fourteen vaccines for fifteen diseases," with no substantial additions in vaccine types over the years [2]. - As of 2024, 147 out of 194 WHO member countries have included the HPV vaccine in their immunization programs [2]. Group 2: HPV Vaccine and Cervical Cancer - HPV is a common virus primarily transmitted through sexual contact, with persistent infection of 14 high-risk HPV types being the main cause of cervical cancer [2]. - Vaccination can prevent at least 70% of cervical cancer cases, which is critical given the rising incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in China [2]. - In 2022, approximately 150,000 new cervical cancer cases and about 56,000 deaths were reported in China [2]. Group 3: Local Government Initiatives - Several local governments have already initiated free HPV vaccination programs for eligible girls, with Guangdong province being one of the earliest adopters since 2022 [3][4]. - The program in Guangdong requires eligible girls to meet specific criteria, including being under 14 years old and having no prior HPV vaccination [4]. - Over 17 provinces in China have implemented similar free vaccination projects, although the distribution of these programs is uneven, with fewer initiatives in central and northeastern regions compared to eastern and southern areas [4]. Group 4: Market Impact - Following the announcement of the HPV vaccine's inclusion in the immunization program, stock prices of several HPV vaccine manufacturers rose [5]. - WanTai BioPharmaceuticals saw a 2.52% increase in stock price, while Watson Bio and Zhifei Biological also experienced stock price increases of 1.22% and 1.71%, respectively [5].