Beijing, September 11 – At a press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office, Dr. Shen Hongbing, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission and Director of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, announced that China will, within this year, roll out nationwide HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine immunization for school girls and include the HPV vaccine in the National Immunization Program (NIP) to safeguard women’s health. With this policy now formally in place, age-eligible girls will benefit from free vaccination. This marks the first expansion of China’s NIP since 2008.
Behind this landmark public health decision benefiting millions of families, the Innovation Lab for Vaccine Delivery Research (VaxLab) at Duke Kunshan University has played a pivotal role in providing evidence and advocacy to support the policy decision-making.
Established in 2021 with support from the Gates Foundation, VaxLab is dedicated to strengthening the National Immunization Program (NIP) by producing high-quality scientific evidence and conducting evidence-based policy advocacy, thereby improving population health. Over the past three years, it has launched a series of research projects in key areas, generating locally relevant evidence, case studies, and strategic recommendations that have informed evidence-based policymaking.
In addition, the Lab has contributed to policy dialogue by publishing health policy briefs, organizing regular thematic seminars, building platforms for industry dialogue and international exchange, sharing research results and global best practices, and collaborating with media outlets to stimulate public discourse on immunization policy and foster consensus.
Regarding the HPV vaccine, VaxLab has released three policy briefs, six academic papers, convened one workshop on dose reduction strategies of HPV vaccines, produced four national case studies, and published five feature articles to introduce HPV vaccine related edging research. During World Immunization Weeks in 2024 and 2025, it compiled detailed evidence and data to support advocacy efforts on national leading media for the advancement of the China NIP.
Professor Shenglan Tang, Director of the Innovation Lab for Vaccine Delivery Research and Co-Director of the Global Health Research Center at Duke Kunshan University, said:
“By conducting high-quality, policy-oriented health policy research, we have provided the scientific foundation and practical strategies for introducing the HPV vaccine into China’s National Immunization Program. At the same time, we actively engage with stakeholders across different sectors, translating research findings into policy language, and providing actionable recommendations. In this major public health policy change and to protect the health of millions of women, our Lab has served as both a bridge and an engine for change.”
