Who Needs HPV Vaccination Boosting

With the creation of efficacious cancer prevention vaccines to target human papillomavirus (HPV) in the first decade of this century, the World Health Organization (WHO) set an ambitious target to lower cervical cancer incidence and mortality by 30% by 2030.

While the WHO targets are aspirational, no country has yet verified that it has reached them.

A presentation by Professor Suzanne Garland at this year's ESCMID Global Congress revealed that even though the evidence is clear and continues to build that HPV vaccination is reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality and HPV-related disease, there are high variations in coverage globally.

Prof Garland reviewed the WHO Dashboard data, which shows that of 194 reporting countries, 137 (71%) have HPV in their national vaccination programs.

The WHO database shows that the average full vaccine coverage is 44% globally.

Specifically, it shows that Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal have full vaccination coverage above 70%, while the USA and Germany trail behind at 50-70%.

Of the HPV national programs reporting to the end of 2023, 42% are for both sexes, while 58% are for girls only.

Globally, 21% of girls have received at least one dose of HPV vaccine by age 15, which has steadily increased from 4% in 2010.

Prof Garland concluded in a press release on April 27, 2024, "Vaccination is a critical component of the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem."

"There is strong and growing evidence on effectiveness against cervical cancer, with rates falling steadily as vaccination takes effect."

"Scaling up vaccine access and coverage globally is critical to reduce inequities between and within countries."

In the United States, several states are reaching a broad number of boys and girls, while others are lagging.

For example, Texas's HPV vaccination rate for children ages 13–17 is below the national average, ranking 48th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2021. 

In 2021, 51.5% of Texas teens completed the HPV vaccine series.

As of April 29, 2024, HPV vaccines are available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.