Protects against the main causes of cervical cancer, from which about 179,000 women died in 2020 in lower-income countries.
Protects against the main causes of cervical cancer, from which about 179,000 women died in 2020 in lower-income countries.
Latest articles about HPV Routine vaccines: HPV
HPV vaccine coverage increased from 7% in 2019 to 10% in 2022. This was largely driven by countries introducing the vaccine into their national immunisation programmes. By the end of 2022, 32 countries had successfully launched their HPV vaccine national programme with Gavi support, fully immunising more than 16.3 million girls since 2014, which translates to over 387,000 cervical cancer deaths averted with Gavi support.
In April 2022, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommended a one- or two-dose schedule for HPV vaccine; subsequently, the WHO position paper was released in December 2022. In response to this potential gamechanger for Gavi’s HPV vaccine programme – and to overcome the challenges and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HPV vaccine delivery – in December 2022, the Gavi Board approved the revitalisation of Gavi’s HPV vaccine programme. This revitalisation initiative committed to reach 86 million adolescent girls with HPV vaccine by 2025 through: (1) accelerating quality introductions; (2) rapidly improving global and national coverage; and (3) generating long- term programmatic sustainability.
With efforts underway to strengthen programme delivery and facilitate more introductions, and long-standing supply challenges easing thanks to increased vaccine production and the new one-dose recommendation, coverage is expected to further increase in the coming years.
Cervical cancer caused 179,000 deaths in 2020 in lower- income countries. However, human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with over 90% of these cancers, and vaccination provides high protection against cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine has amongst the highest impact of all Gavi-supported vaccines, with 17.4 deaths averted per 1,000 children vaccinated, and is the key intervention towards achieving the global strategy for cervical cancer elimination.
HPV vaccination is critical to reducing cervical cancer, especially in lower-income countries with a high disease burden and less developed cervical cancer screening and treatment programmes. It is also a bridge to improving women’s and girls’ health through increased touchpoints with health services, and therefore an opportunity to positively impact gender equity.
Historically, the high cost of HPV vaccine, limited supply and challenges of reaching adolescent girls to deliver immunisation have been barriers to introduction in lower-income countries. Gavi is working to bridge the equity gap by providing support for HPV vaccine and ensuring sustainable prices. Gavi supports HPV vaccines for national introduction, with immunisation of multi-age cohorts of girls aged 9–14 years.
These objectives have been facilitated by an easing of global HPV vaccine supply constraints, the permissive recommendation by SAGE for a one-dose schedule (compared with the two-dose schedule) and the waning of COVID-19 pandemic-related delivery disruptions. Nonetheless, by end 2022, over 16 million girls had been reached with HPV vaccine with Gavi support.
In December 2022 the Gavi Board approved the revitalisation of the Alliance’s HPV vaccine programme with a US$ 600+ million investment through 2025. With the additional funding in place, the Alliance has set an ambitious goal to reach over 86 million girls with HPV vaccine by 2025, aiming to avert over 1.4 million future deaths from cervical cancer.
The revitalisation will allow Gavi to dedicate additional funding to help countries and partners reach more girls than ever with this life-saving vaccine – through expanded funding for vaccines, introduction and campaign costs;, and expanded support for technical assistance.
Gavi-eligible countries can also utilise health system strengthening (HSS) funding to develop tailored approaches to improve and sustain HPV vaccination coverage.
Gavi procures three HPV vaccines that have been prequalified by WHO. Through long-term agreements with manufacturers, supply is likely to be sufficient to meet the ongoing demand for delayed MAC catch-up campaigns and routine introductions, supported by the adoption of a one-dose schedule by countries, and suppliers ramping up production.
Bangladesh makes HPV vaccine routine after successful launch campaign
Bangladesh has concluded its phased HPV vaccine introductory campaign with 5.6 million girls protected – a positive indicator for how the cancer-blocking vaccine will be embraced in years to come.
After pandemic setback and natural disasters, Malawi school teachers help dial up HPV vaccine uptake
The government’s strategy of training up teachers to explain the science to confused or worried parents is working, learns Ashley Simango.
Nigerian army wives take the fight to cervical cancer
While their husbands defend their country from security threats in in the country’s north, a group of wives of Nigerian army officers are campaigning for the HPV vaccine, in hopes of definitively routing cervical cancer.
Campaigning against cancer in northeastern Kenya
Kenya’s Wajir County has high rates of cervical cancer and strikingly low rates of HPV vaccination. Pius Sawa asks what it will take to reverse the trend.
New study gives insights into how the immune system kicks out HPV
Study maps the immune responses underpinning non-persistent infections with human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer.
"Then God sent Mr Balinda" – the Rwandan nurse supporting cervical cancer patients
For patients, getting through cancer treatment is a trial. One nurse’s efforts to provide both material and emotional support has made a major difference.
How self-testing for HPV infection could improve cervical cancer screening
Earlier detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous cells could save lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
In pictures: HPV vaccines reach remote Mongolia
Mongolia has just introduced the life-saving HPV vaccine, aiming to protect 90% of its children against cancer. VaccinesWork visited a school in Töv Province to see how the roll-out was going.
In a landmark event co-organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a group of civil society organizations (CSOs) and parliamentarians from Zambia, Kenya, and Sierra Leone came…
Finding new ways to engage communities in vaccinations in Kenya
Q&A with Lillyan Mutua about the challenges she encounters in her efforts to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine and the importance of storytelling to spread awareness.
Bangladesh embraces HPV vaccination
Millions of adolescent girls from seven divisions of Bangladesh are joining their peers in the Dhaka Division for the second phase of the lifesaving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaigns.
Mali rolls out cancer-blocking jab
The Sahelian country will offer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free to as many as 320,000 girls each year.
Eligible countries can access detailed guidelines to manage the support they receive from Gavi.
