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.
The public health impact of a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule
New review of evidence on a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule is published by PATH-led consortium.
Getting girls on board with the HPV vaccine
New girl-centered toolkit helps health officials develop and implement communications campaigns that resonate with girls in their countries.
Myanmar celebrates the launch of the HPV vaccine
Nearly half a million girls to be protected each year following the launch of the HPV, which will be provided with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Here’s a closer look at the launch ceremony.
Simplifying the vaccine cost equation
PATH offers new vaccine cost calculators to equip countries making the most of their resources.
Myanmar introduces cervical cancer vaccine nationally, despite COVID-19 challenges
Around 450,000 girls aged 9-10 will receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against the leading cause of cervical cancer. Myanmar currently has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia.
Immunization Is the Best Weapon Against Poverty
Anti-vaxxers’ irresponsible misinformation ignores those with the most to lose by not vaccinating: the poorest and most vulnerable, who risk dying or sliding into medical impoverishment if they or their loved ones get sick. For much of the world’…
HPV Vaccine Lowers Risk of Cervical Cancer Up to 88%
New research found a direct link between the human papillomavirus vaccine and a lowered risk of developing cervical cancer, with vaccinating children before the age of 17 having the greatest impact.
Leaders in the fight against infectious diseases
Snapshots from DRC, India and Zambia illustrate country ownership and progress in the fights against Ebola, polio and HPV.
When I was 12, I received the HPV vaccine just like most girls my age in Rwanda. The day after we got the first dose, my classmates started spreading rumours about the vaccine that they had heard from their families and communities.
Malawi: Reaching girls earlier
In Malawi, primary school drop-out rates are among the highest in Africa. To try and guarantee high coverage, the HPV vaccine is administered to 9-years-old girls.
Ethiopia Reaching girls at scale
Helping rural and urban girls across Ethiopia understand cervical cancer and HPV.
Gavi has helped lower-income nations narrow the vaccine coverage gap
Lower-income countries are seeing better vaccination coverage than they have had in decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to hamper progress.
Eligible countries can access detailed guidelines to manage the support they receive from Gavi.
