Minister of Public Health Víctor Atallah officially integrated the Nonavalent (9-valent) vaccine into the National Vaccination Schedule on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, making the Dominican Republic one of the few nations in the Americas to offer this advanced level of protection against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Minister Atallah is known for his preventive slant to medicine since he was sworn in on 24 January 2024.
The Ministry of Public Health sees this transition as a “transcendental step” in the fight to eradicate cervical cancer and other HPV-related conditions in the country.
The new vaccine (sold in the USA as Gardasil 9) replaces the previous quadrivalent (4-valent) version. It is available immediately and free of charge for boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 14 at Ministry of Public Health vaccination stations.
Broadened protection
The Nonavalent vaccine significantly expands the scope of immunity, protecting against nine types of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58). While the previous version covered the types responsible for most cervical cancers, this updated formula provides more than 90% protection against the virus and its associated diseases.
“We are focusing on prevention for the country’s youngest population,” Minister Atallah stated during the launch at the Dr. José Manuel Rodríguez Jiménez Children’s Hospital. “Our commitment is to ensure our children have effective tools for a healthier future.”
A regional milestone
The Dominican Republic now joins an exclusive group of only seven countries in the Americas, including the United States, Canada, Chile, and Argentina, to adopt this next-generation vaccine.
Alba María Ropero Álvarez, the representative for the PAHO/WHO in the Dominican Republic, described the move as a major public health achievement. She noted that most countries in the region still rely on the older quadrivalent vaccine, marking the DR as a regional leader in immunization modernization.
Simplified schedule and availability
Under the new guidelines, the vaccination schedule has been streamlined:
• Standard dose: A single-dose regimen for most children.
• Exceptions: Immunocompromised children may require a two-dose schedule.
• Access: The vaccine is available at all 40 Provincial Health Directorates and more than 1,400 vaccination centers nationwide.
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Ministry of Public Health
Diario Libre
16 March 2026