HPV vaccine costs fall as countries accelerate efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

Falling vaccine prices and evidence supporting a single-dose HPV schedule have accelerated rollout in many countries, supporting WHO elimination targets while delivery barriers and hesitancy continue to limit coverage.

Cervical cancer remains a major cause of death for women globally, with about 350,000 deaths a year. Most cases are linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), so prevention efforts focus on vaccination and screening. New evidence supporting a single-dose HPV schedule, together with lower-priced vaccines from more manufacturers, has enabled faster rollouts in many low- and middle-income countries. The WHO has set 2030 targets for vaccination, screening and treatment as part of a global elimination strategy. Key facts: - About 95 percent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, making the disease largely vaccine-preventable. - In 2022 the WHO recommended a single-dose HPV regimen, and a recent study reported about 97 percent effectiveness against cancer-causing HPV infections across trial groups totalling more than 20,000 participants, with protection observed up to five years. - By January 2026, 164 countries had introduced HPV vaccination nationally or sub-nationally, up from 149 in 2024. - Lower-cost vaccines from additional manufacturers, including products from China and a domestic option from the Serum Institute of India, have increased global supply and reduced prices. - Coverage remains uneven because delivery to adolescents and vaccine hesitancy have limited uptake; the article reports that misinformation promoted by some public figures has affected confidence in some places. Summary: Wider use of single-dose schedules and the arrival of lower-cost vaccine options have made it easier for many countries to expand HPV programmes and to work toward the WHO's 2030 elimination targets. Persistent challenges include reaching adolescents outside routine childhood immunisation, uneven school-based delivery, and hesitancy, and the full population-level impact is expected to be seen over decades as vaccinated cohorts age.