Gavi: HPV vaccines save 1.4 million future lives in low-income countries.
A major global push to get HPV vaccines to poorer countries has saved about 1.4 million girls and women from future cervical cancer deaths, according to vaccine alliance Gavi.
Gavi says that over the past three years, 86 million girls have been vaccinated against HPV, the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases.
Cervical cancer hits low-income countries the hardest because many of them lack proper screening and treatment. In 2022 alone, these countries accounted for 90% of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded worldwide.
Gavi’s CEO, Sania Nishtar, praised governments and partners for their “incredible commitment,” saying the coordinated effort helped reach vaccination targets faster than expected.
Across Africa, HPV vaccination coverage has climbed sharply, from just 4% in 2014 to 44% by the end of 2024, even higher than Europe’s 38%.
To make this possible, Gavi worked with vaccine manufacturers to bring down costs. Because of bulk purchasing and long-term commitments, HPV vaccines in Gavi-supported countries now cost between $2.90 and $5.18 per dose, compared to over $100 in many richer nations.
Nishtar said all partners deserve credit, but warned that HPV-related cervical cancer still kills one woman every two minutes.
In 2022, the World Health Organization approved a single-dose schedule, instead of the usual two doses. This means available vaccine supplies can now cover twice as many girls, especially in regions where access remains a challenge.
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