Karangasem plans catch-up HPV vaccinations for schoolchildren

In brief: Health officials in Karangasem, eastern Bali, said on 13 October 2026 that roughly 1,000 HPV vaccine doses were being made available for children who missed their school immunisation. Coverage was reported at 88.7% of the target group; the district has not yet announced a catch-up timetable.

The plan is aimed at children who missed their scheduled vaccination, including those absent on the day their school was visited. For parents, the immediate development is the prospect of a further opportunity through the local health service, not a confirmed appointment or a district-wide schedule.

Boys join the target group in 2026

Karangasem's health department head, I Gusti Bagus Putra Pertama, said the local programme now covers both girls and boys around age 11, corresponding to the fifth year of primary school. Boys were added to the district's target group this year. HPV vaccination is intended to reduce the risk of illnesses associated with certain types of human papillomavirus, including cancers later in life.

The campaign forms part of Indonesia's School Immunisation Month, known as BIAS. Schools, madrasahs and community health centres are working together to identify children who have not received their vaccination. Those who missed a school session may be directed to a puskesmas, a government community health centre, for follow-up. The district health department says vaccination is free for children eligible under the programme.

A supply announcement is not a vaccination schedule

The 88.7% coverage figure was attributed to district health officials on 13 October. Their stated aim is to reach 100%, with approximately 1,000 doses set aside for children still to be vaccinated. It is a statement about doses available for catch-up work; it does not mean those additional injections have already been administered.

Neither the participating school list nor the dates and locations for the extra sessions were specified in the announcement. Families should therefore ask their child's school or local puskesmas how the catch-up programme will operate. The Indonesian Ministry of Health's general BIAS guidance provides for children who miss an immunisation session to be vaccinated through a community health centre or another health facility, but the arrangements in Karangasem must still be confirmed locally.

Parents who have recently moved to Karangasem may need to establish whether their child's details are included in the local records. The 13 October statement does not clarify eligibility for foreign nationals, international-school pupils or other children outside the regular local school system. No entitlement to a free dose for those groups should be assumed without confirmation, and individual medical suitability belongs in a discussion with a health professional.

• Warta Bali Online — “HPV Belum 100 Persen, Karangasem Siapkan 1.000 Vaksin Susulan,” 13 October 2026.
• Indonesian Ministry of Health — “Bulan Imunisasi Anak Sekolah (BIAS),” publication date not stated.
• Indonesian Ministry of Health — “Vaksin HPV, Mencegah Kanker Leher Rahim Demi Mewujudkan Generasi Sehat,” 2 May 2024.