Survey Finds 60% of Women Have No Plans to Receive the Cervical Cancer Vaccine (HPV Vaccine)

VALUE FIRST, a digital marketing company based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture and led by Representative Director Satoshi Sano, conducted a survey through its media platform “Minna no Koe Research Lab” on public perceptions of the safety of the cervical cancer vaccine, also known as the HPV vaccine. The survey targeted 400 women aged 10 and older. Survey overview: Survey period: December 17, 2025 to December 31, 2025 Respondents: Women aged 10 and older registered with CrowdWorks Valid responses: 400 Method: Online survey conducted via CrowdWorks When asked whether they had ever received the cervical cancer vaccine, 60.00% of respondents said they had no plans to receive it, accounting for 240 responses. When combined with the 69 respondents who said they were undecided, more than 70% were found to be unvaccinated. Fewer than 30% said they had received the vaccine one to three times, with 86 such responses, suggesting that the HPV vaccine has not yet become a familiar option. Japan currently offers publicly funded catch-up vaccinations for women who missed previous opportunities to receive the vaccine, mainly those born between fiscal 1997 and fiscal 2008. However, the low vaccination rate seen in this survey suggests that awareness of such relief measures may be insufficient, or that some people may be refusing vaccination. When asked whether they or someone close to them had experienced physical changes or concerning symptoms after receiving the HPV vaccine, 47.75% answered “none,” totaling 191 responses. Most reported symptoms were within the medically expected range of normal vaccine reactions, such as swelling, redness, pain at the injection site, and fever. At the same time, a small number of respondents cited severe symptoms such as paralysis, lower-body paralysis, and whole-body pain. The results indicate that while many people experience no changes at all, reported post-vaccination reactions range from common mild side effects to serious health concerns. When respondents were asked about their impression of the HPV vaccine, the most common answer was “concern about serious side effects or aftereffects,” with 178 responses. Despite the vaccine’s major benefit of helping prevent cancer, many respondents held negative impressions, suggesting that past media coverage may have contributed to a widespread image of the HPV vaccine as unsafe. When asked what they most expect from the government and medical institutions regarding HPV vaccine issues, the most common answer was “improve safety and continue research and verification,” with 134 responses. This suggests that the public wants trust in the HPV vaccine to be rebuilt through ongoing updates based on the latest evidence, rather than simply accepting current safety explanations. The second most common answer was “disclose information about risks and side effects,” with 108 responses, indicating a strong demand for transparency and for risks to be disclosed rather than only emphasizing benefits. Key findings: 60.00% said they had no plans to receive the vaccine; post-vaccination symptoms and side effects varied; more than 40% were concerned about serious side effects or aftereffects; 31.25% supported the resumption of active recommendations; and many respondents wanted continued efforts to improve safety through research and verification. The survey shows that issues surrounding the HPV vaccine have moved beyond the medical field and become a major public health challenge in Japan. Following reports of side effects in 2013, Japan suspended active recommendations for nine years. Although active recommendations resumed in 2022, dispelling the negative image that once took hold and rebuilding trust in government and medicine will not be easy. Going forward, Japan will need not only to pursue scientific safety but also to address the psychological anxieties held by the public.