Jakarta, IO – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is to be made part of routine immunizations for the public. The government plans to administer it free of charge starting this year.
Budi said vaccination is carried out as a preventive and promotive measure to meet the public’s basic health needs. This means vaccines is about prevention from severe diseases, not cure.
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“Like Covid-19, if we get sick it can cost tens of millions in hospital treatment, but if we prevent it by wearing masks, taking vitamins, that will be much cheaper. So vaccination is to prevent, not to treat the sick,” he said.