World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine experts have recommended that countries consider extending routine Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to girls aged 4 to 8 years, provided it helps expand overall national immunization coverage.
Speaking from Geneva on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), Anthony Scott, Chairman of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), reported that while nearly 165 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine, global coverage remains at a concerning 33%—well short of the WHO’s global target of 90% required to eliminate cervical cancer. Scott emphasized that while girls aged 9 to 14 remain the top priority for HPV immunization, SAGE’s review of updated clinical evidence confirms that a single-dose schedule for girls aged 9 to 14 remains the most effective strategy to boost coverage.
According to WHO Director of Immunization Kate O’Brien, over 95 million girls had received the HPV vaccine by the end of 2025. Cervical cancer, caused by persistent high-risk HPV infection, was the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer among women globally in 2024, causing 604,000 new cases and approximately 280,000 deaths. The WHO emphasized that cervical cancer remains the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women across 26 countries, mostly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, Melanesia, and parts of Southeast Asia.
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Reported by International Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
