Status of HPV disease and vaccination programmes in LMICs: Introduction to special issue

Abstract

Sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are extremely common in both men and women and while most will clear naturally, some may progress to cervical cancer and other cancers. Despite the availability of prophylactic vaccines and well-established screening and treatment practices, the global burden of HPV-related disease remains high, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). We outline the current global epidemiology of cervical cancer disease incidence and mortality, with the highest burden in Africa and Asia. As part of a strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, the WHO recommends a 3-fold approach combining the use of prophylactic vaccines with cervical cancer screening and treatment. This overview focuses on the globally available HPV vaccines and current status of vaccine introduction in LMICs. We describe decreased HPV vaccination coverage in recent years and highlight the need for emphasis on new vaccine introductions and existing vaccine programme strengthening in order to reach goals for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. It is estimated that US$3.20 will be returned on each dollar invested in cervical cancer prevention efforts through 2050 [1]. Success for these initiatives centers on strategic vaccine delivery and collaborations that foster political support and engagement with civil society organisations and educational sector stakeholders. Recent increases in vaccine supply and single-dose efficacy evidence pave the way for cervical cancer elimination through vaccination coupled with screening and treatment. Subsequent manuscripts in this supplement will outline case studies and lessons from two symposia held in Africa and South Asia by the Coalition to Strengthen the HPV Immunization Community in 2022 including evidence for a one-dose strategy, the challenges of maintaining vaccine programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and progress in cervical cancer screening programmes.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus vaccine.