In the Dowazaak community of Freetown, Sierra Leone, students at St. Augustine School are receiving the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
New HPV vaccine hailed as a lifesaver on International Day of the Girl Girl
Across Africa, too many women continue to die from cervical cancer. This disease is almost completely preventable with the HPV vaccine.
For too long, these vaccines have been out of reach for many girls across the continent.
But in early October, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a decision to help countries around the world reach more girls with these lifesaving vaccines.
The decision adds a new one-shot vaccine, Secorin, to the two existing vaccines, allowing countries to vaccinate more girls with fewer resources.
This could have a particularly big impact on Africa, where 19 of the top 20 countries with the highest rates of cervical cancer are concentrated. Many of these countries have limited access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.
Important prevention tool
Although most cases of cervical cancer are treatable, too many women do not know they have cancer until it is too late. Even if detected early enough, these women may not live near a hospital with the resources or experts needed to treat cervical cancer, much less have the funds for treatment. You may not have one.
That’s why vaccines are an important preventive measure. Vaccines that protect girls from HPV infection, the main cause of cervical cancer, are highly effective in preventing the development of cervical cancer in the future.
Organizations like PATH, Gavi, and the Vaccine Alliance have been working for years to raise awareness about how the HPV vaccine can improve the lives of people in our communities.
Thanks to these efforts and the commitment of many African leaders to protect future generations of women from cervical cancer, significant progress has been made in HPV vaccination. In 2023, 40% of girls in Africa will have received HPV vaccination, compared to just 21% in 2020. Still, vaccination rates remain far below where they should be to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
More options to address supply shortages
A girl receives a single dose of the HPV vaccine at Lisawo Elementary School in Chirazulu, Malawi.
Many countries in Africa are ready to introduce HPV vaccines or expand their programs, but a lack of vaccine supply is hampering progress.
Delays in vaccination programs are putting more girls at risk of cervical cancer as they grow up. HPV vaccination programs primarily target girls aged 9 to 14, so if countries are unable to vaccinate within this narrow window, delays will leave many girls missing out on lifesaving protection. It means that.
Additional supplies of vaccines that can be administered in a one-dose schedule will help countries reach more girls with these lifesaving vaccines.
Up until now, HPV vaccination has been given in two doses, but the WHO says that one dose is sufficient to prevent cervical cancer.
Nearly 60 countries, ranging from high-income countries to low- and middle-income countries, have decided to follow a one-dose schedule. Countries that made the switch in 2023 expanded HPV vaccination coverage by an average of 8% and vaccinated an estimated 6 million more girls.
African countries are leading efforts to protect more girls by using a single-dose schedule, with 17 African countries already making the switch.
The WHO decision provides a new avenue for countries that want to introduce HPV vaccines or expand programs with a single-dose schedule. This could be particularly useful for countries supported by Gavi, the vaccine alliance that supports governments by co-financing immunization programs and helping to procure vaccines at subsidized prices. There is. All three HPV vaccines on the Gavi menu are now available in a one-dose schedule.
The availability of different HPV vaccines in a single-dose schedule means countries do not have to wait as long to introduce a vaccine.
If one manufacturer experiences problems such as delays or stockouts, countries can rely on other options to ensure smooth implementation of HPV vaccination programs and ensure that girls do not miss out on vaccinations. can.
Several countries in Asia and Africa are already considering what the WHO decision means for their HPV vaccination efforts.
The WHO decision is more than just an update to a technical document. This is an opportunity for African countries to commit to protecting the health and future of the next generation of women.
Eradication of cervical cancer is achievable not only in Africa but also in other regions. By seizing this moment and adopting a one-dose schedule for the HPV vaccine, governments and leaders can ensure that girls are not left behind.
Cathy Ndiaye is the director of PATH’s HPV vaccine program. PATH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience building multidisciplinary partnerships and expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and many other disciplines, PATH develops innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges. We are developing and expanding the scale.
Image credit: Gabi, Nadia Marini/MSF.
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