NewsDesk @bactiman63

The World Health Organization‘s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recently announced their evaluation of the evidence that has been emerging over past years that single-dose schedules provide comparable efficacy to the two or three-dose regimens.

They concluded that a single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine delivers solid protection against HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, that is comparable to 2-dose schedules.

SAGE recommends updating dose schedules for HPV as follows:

  • one or two-dose schedule for the primary target of girls aged 9-14
  • one or two-dose schedule for young women aged 15-20
  • Two doses with a 6-month interval for women older than 21.

The option for a single dose of the vaccine is less costly, less resource intensive and easier to administer. It facilitates implementing catch-up campaigns for multiple age groups, reduces the challenges link ed to tracing girls for their second dose and allows for financial and human resources to be redirected to other health priorities.”

More than 95% of cervical cancer is caused by sexually transmitted HPV, which is the fourth most common type of cancer in women globally with 90% of these women living in low- and middle-income countries.

“The HPV vaccine is highly effective for the prevention of HPV serotypes 16 & 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancer,” said Dr Alejandro Cravioto, SAGE Chair. “SAGE urges all countries to introduce HPV vaccines and prioritize multi-age cohort catch up of missed and older cohorts of girls. These recommendations will enable more girls and women to be vaccinated and thus preventing them from having cervical cancer and all its consequences over the course of their lifetimes.”

Immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV, should receive three doses if feasible, and if not at least two doses. There is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of a single dose in this group.