A single dose of the vaccine can provide comparable efficacy and protection to a two-dose regimen, the UN agency said, which could lead to greater global access to the life-saving drug.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, with around 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020.
Avoiding unnecessary deaths
More than 95 percent of cervical cancers are caused by sexually transmitted HPV.
“Averting the development of the disease by increasing access to effective vaccines is an extremely important step in alleviating unnecessary illness and death,” the WHO said in a statement.
The updated recommendations were published in a position paperissued last week, and were originally set up by the WHO’s independent advisory group known as SAGEIn April.
decline in coverage
The position paper is timely, the agency said, as it “a deeply worrying decline” in HPV vaccine coverage worldwide.
Between 2019 and 2021, first-dose immunization coverage fell to 15 percent, a decrease of 25 percent. As a result, 3.5 million more girls 2021 compared to 2019 without an HPV vaccination.
The WHO now recommends a regimen of one or two doses for girls and women aged nine to 20 and two doses six months apart for women aged 21 and over.
Protect more girls
The primary goal of vaccination is Girls aged nine to 14 years, before beginning sexual activity. Vaccination of secondary targets such as boys and older women is recommended where feasible and affordable.
The position paper also underscores the importance of prioritizing vaccination people with weak immune systemslike those living with HIV.
Immunocompromised people should receive at least two doses of the HPV vaccine, and if possible three.
“Optimizing the HPV schedule is expected to improve vaccine access and opportunities for countries Increasing the number of girls who can be vaccinated and to reduce the burden of the often complicated and costly follow-up care required to complete the vaccination course,” WHO said.
Countries are urged to strengthen their HPV immunization programs, accelerate implementation and reverse the decline in immunization coverage.
