HANOI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will officially include the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in its mandatory immunization program starting from July 1, according to a new circular recently issued by the Ministry of Health, local media Tuoi Tre reported on Wednesday.

Girls aged 11 will receive free HPV vaccinations, while detailed guidelines on eligibility, dosage and rollout arrangements will be released at a later date, the report said.

According to the ministry's circular, the compulsory vaccination program covers 14 categories of diseases, including hepatitis B, tuberculosis, measles, rubella, rotavirus-induced diarrhea, Japanese encephalitis, pneumococcal diseases and HPV-related conditions. ■