Overview
- Gavi says its three‑year push has protected an estimated 86 million girls in lower‑income countries and averted 1.4 million future deaths, aided by WHO’s single‑dose policy and per‑dose prices as low as US$2.90 in supported nations.
- The WHO marked the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, noting cervical cancer causes more than 350,000 deaths annually, with about 90% in low‑income countries, and reaffirmed the 90‑70‑90 elimination targets.
- Countries announced new actions, including mass vaccination drives in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Pakistan’s national campaign reaching over 9 million girls, and China’s addition of HPV vaccine to its immunization program.
- New Canadian data show cervical cancer rates have plateaued, putting the 2040 elimination goal at risk, with experts citing lower HPV vaccination, reduced screening, and follow‑up gaps as 430 deaths are expected in 2025.
- Clinicians warn that screening participation remains uneven even where vaccination is strong, with Australia reporting 27% of eligible women unscreened from 2019–2023 and reminders that vaccinated women still need regular tests.