$600 Million Cancels Cervical Cancer with One HPV Dose

World-class leaders have taken a bold step towards eliminating cervical cancer once and for all. Nearly $600 million in new funding has been pledged to expand vaccine coverage and strengthen screening and treatment programs.

The Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum: Advancing the Call to Action aims to eradicate this preventable cancer.

The Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum has played a crucial role in catalyzing national and global momentum to end this preventable disease.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, has successfully prevented the vast majority of cases and offers a clear path to elimination. 

Dr. Chris Elias, President, Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commented in the WHO press release on March 5, 2024, "HPV vaccines are a miracle of modern medicine, yet too many girls in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to them."

"There is no reason why women should die from cervical cancer when a vaccine to prevent it exists."

"With the addition of WHO's guidance for a one-dose HPV vaccine schedule, cervical cancer elimination is within reach. Now is the time for governments and partners around the world to increase HPV vaccine access and protect future generations from cervical cancer." 

In a significant shift, the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2022 global recommendation for one-dose HPV vaccine schedules significantly reduced barriers to scaling up vaccination programs.

It has been reinforced by a similar recommendation in the Americas Region in 2023.

Furthermore, the WHO's Regional Office for Africa has just followed suit with its recommendation for countries in the region to adopt the single-dose vaccination schedule.

To date, 37 countries have reported switching or intent to switch to a one-dose HPV regimen. 

As of March 2024, there are six licensed HPV vaccines, including Cervavac and Gardasil 9®.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says HPV vaccination is administered as a two-dose series (0, 6-12 months) for most persons who initiate vaccination at ages 9 through 14. A three-dose series (0, 1-2, 6 months) for persons who start vaccination at ages 15 through 45 and for immunocompromised persons.

The new funding includes but is not limited to $180 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, $10 million from UNICEF, and $ 400 million from the World Bank.