A health information day on human papillomavirus (HPV) was held at Mongolian-Russian Joint School No. 3 in Sukhbaatar District, where the school doctor, B. Sarantuya, spoke to fifth-grade students about HPV transmission and the cancers it can cause in both women and men.
“Our school has more than 3,000 students and we keep individual health books for each child. We regularly monitor their health and vaccination status,” Dr. Sarantuya said. “Ninety percent of our students are fully covered by the national immunization schedule, the highest rate in Sukhbaatar District for 2024–2025.”
She stressed the importance of parental participation, noting that children may only be vaccinated after parents give consent. Dr. Sarantuya warned about the risks of vaccine misinformation: “There are parents who refuse vaccination without understanding the science, and that violates children’s rights. It’s sad to see.” At the same time she praised parents who do careful research and ensure their children are vaccinated.
Dr. Sarantuya said she works to give students a systematic, age-appropriate understanding of vaccines and to promote healthy habits. “What you eat and how you live are closely linked to your health,” she told students, adding that early nutrition and healthy routines help create healthy adults.
Highlighting Mongolia’s high HPV burden, she reiterated that vaccinating children from age 11 is the most effective prevention against HPV-related cancers, notably cervical cancer, a disease that can be symptomless until it is advanced and often fatal. “Cervical cancer mostly affects women and can devastate families,” she said. “To keep families healthy, I urge parents to understand the importance of the HPV vaccine and to make sure their children receive it on time.”
A health information day on human papillomavirus (HPV) was held at Mongolian-Russian Joint School No. 3 in Sukhbaatar District, where the school doctor, B. Sarantuya, spoke to fifth-grade students about HPV transmission and the cancers it can cause in both women and men.
“Our school has more than 3,000 students and we keep individual health books for each child. We regularly monitor their health and vaccination status,” Dr. Sarantuya said. “Ninety percent of our students are fully covered by the national immunization schedule, the highest rate in Sukhbaatar District for 2024–2025.”
She stressed the importance of parental participation, noting that children may only be vaccinated after parents give consent. Dr. Sarantuya warned about the risks of vaccine misinformation: “There are parents who refuse vaccination without understanding the science, and that violates children’s rights. It’s sad to see.” At the same time she praised parents who do careful research and ensure their children are vaccinated.
Dr. Sarantuya said she works to give students a systematic, age-appropriate understanding of vaccines and to promote healthy habits. “What you eat and how you live are closely linked to your health,” she told students, adding that early nutrition and healthy routines help create healthy adults.
Highlighting Mongolia’s high HPV burden, she reiterated that vaccinating children from age 11 is the most effective prevention against HPV-related cancers, notably cervical cancer, a disease that can be symptomless until it is advanced and often fatal. “Cervical cancer mostly affects women and can devastate families,” she said. “To keep families healthy, I urge parents to understand the importance of the HPV vaccine and to make sure their children receive it on time.”