Citing National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) statistics, Yii said over half a million schoolgirls are estimated to have missed their HPV jabs since the start of the pandemic.

He said the HPV vaccine can protect against 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among Malaysian women.

“That is why a comprehensive blueprint to ensure proper implementation of the vaccination programme is a top priority and it must be clearly reflected in the upcoming budget,” he said in a statement.

Based on NCSM’s report, Yii said, there was a reduction in inoculations across almost all states from 2020 to 2022, adding that in Sarawak successful inoculations dropped from 30% in 2020 to 12.5% in 2022.

“This year, not a single district or zone in Kedah, Penang, Perlis, Johor and the three federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan reported successful HPV inoculation programmes.

“Thus the urgent need to restart and reprioritise the vaccination programme, while implementing a comprehensive catch-up plan, to better protect our girls from this deadly virus,” he said.