Countries could consider routine HPV vaccination for girls aged four to eight if earlier access would improve uptake, as global coverage remains far below the WHO target.
The World Health Organisation’s vaccine experts have suggested that countries consider routine HPV vaccination for girls aged four to eight if doing so would help lift stubbornly low uptake, in a move aimed at closing a wide gap between current coverage and global targets. According to a report from AFP carried by Folha, the advice came from the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation after its latest meeting in Geneva.
Anthony Scott, who chairs the group, said about 165 countries have now introduced vaccines against human papillomavirus, but worldwide coverage remains at 33%, far below the WHO’s 90% goal. The advisory group concluded that the single-dose schedule for girls aged nine to 14 is now the most effective way to reach that target, while countries could also add routine vaccination for younger girls if that would improve access and completion rates.
The WHO says HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection and the main cause of cervical cancer, which remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women globally. The agency estimates that in 2024 there were 604,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 280,000 deaths. It also says that almost everyone who is sexually active will contract HPV at some point, usually without symptoms, although persistent infection with cancer-causing strains can lead to cell changes that may progress to cancer.
WHO guidance already places girls aged nine to 14 at the centre of vaccination efforts, with a one- or two-dose schedule depending on age and local policy, while the agency says all licensed HPV vaccines have similar effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer. In the United States, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommend routine vaccination later, typically at ages 11 or 12, with the option to start at nine, underscoring that national schedules continue to differ even as global health officials push to widen protection.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
