Early protection: A medical staff explained the free human papillomavirus (HPV, 人乳头瘤病毒) vaccination policy to teenage girls in Fuyang, Anhui province, on Nov 10. Since then, China has started offering free shots (接种) to girls aged 13 born after Nov 10, 2011. Girls who meet the requirements can receive two doses of the bivalent (二价的) HPV vaccine for free, with a six-month gap between doses. HPV shots are the most cost-effective and long-term way to reduce the risk of cervical cancer (宫颈癌), which is a major threat to women’s health. With widespread vaccination, more than 70 percent of cervical cancer cases can be prevented.