A three-year campaign to deliver human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to low-income countries has prevented an estimated 1.4 million cervical cancer deaths, the vaccine alliance Gavi announced Monday.
“Thanks to a concerted three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and lower-income countries, an estimated 86 million girls are now protected against the leading cause of cervical cancer,” the organisation said in a statement marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
HPV-related cancers disproportionately affect low-income countries, which often lack screening services and access to treatment. These nations accounted for 90 percent of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded in 2022, according to Gavi.
Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar credited the “incredible commitment” of countries and organisations for helping reach the milestone of 86 million girls vaccinated. Across Africa, coverage rose from just 4 percent in 2014 to 44 percent by the end of 2024, surpassing Europe’s 38 percent.
The alliance said it used economies of scale to lower vaccine prices, making them accessible to around 50 lower-income countries. “Gavi secured commitments from manufacturers to invest in HPV vaccines, the price in Gavi-supported countries is now $2.90 to $5.18 per dose, compared with $100 or more elsewhere,” the statement said.
“This collaborative effort is driving major progress toward eliminating one of the deadliest diseases affecting women,” Nishtar added, noting that cervical cancer still claims a life every two minutes.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially endorsed a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule instead of the previous two-dose regimen, allowing twice as many girls to be vaccinated with existing supplies.
AFP
