WHO Adds an HPV Vaccine for Single-Dose Use
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Cecolin®, a fourth WHO-prequalified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, is now confirmed for use in a single-dose schedule. This decision follows new data supporting the product’s effectiveness under WHO’s 2022 recommendations for off-label, single-dose use of HPV vaccines. The move is expected to increase the sustainable supply of HPV vaccines and help reach more girls with cervical cancer-preventing vaccines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Cecolin®, a fourth WHO-prequalified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, is now confirmed for use in a single-dose schedule. This decision follows new data supporting the product’s effectiveness under WHO’s 2022 recommendations for off-label, single-dose use of HPV vaccines. The move is expected to increase the sustainable supply of HPV vaccines and help reach more girls with cervical cancer-preventing vaccines.
“Unlike most other cancers, we have the ability to eliminate cervical cancer, along with its painful inequities,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “By adding another option for a one-dose HPV vaccination schedule, we have taken another step closer to consigning cervical cancer to history.”
Each year, more than 95% of the 660,000 global cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV. Every two minutes, a woman dies from this preventable disease, with 90% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Africa, in particular, bears the brunt, with 19 of the 20 hardest-hit countries located on the continent.
Global shortages of HPV vaccines, which began in 2018, were exacerbated by production issues earlier this year. These challenges put millions of girls in Africa and Asia at risk of missing critical HPV vaccinations.
Dr. Kate O’Brien, Director of WHO’s Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, emphasized the significance of this milestone: “Reaching 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by age 15 is the first pillar of the WHO strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. Adding a single-dose option will provide countries more vaccine choices despite supply challenges.”
WHO data from July 2024 shows an increase in one-dose HPV vaccine coverage among girls aged 9-14, from 20% in 2022 to 27% in 2023. By September 2024, 57 countries were implementing the single-dose schedule, resulting in an additional 6 million girls receiving HPV vaccines in 2023.
Additionally, earlier in 2024, countries and partners committed nearly US$ 600 million in new funding toward the elimination of cervical cancer. This funding includes US$ 180 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US$ 10 million from UNICEF, and US$ 400 million from the World Bank. These investments, along with continued support from Gavi, will accelerate HPV vaccine introductions and increase coverage by 2030.
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