The most positive results it could bring were the campaigns for vaccines against human papillomavirus, in poor countries, all over the world. Thanks to information and vaccination, it is estimated that in these countries more than 1 million deaths from cervical cancerthe last 3 years.
In an announcement by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), it is reported that approximately 86 million young girls are now protected from the leading cause of cervical cancer. Vaccination for human papillomavirus started again in 2023.
“Over a million deaths from cervical cancer have been averted and approx 86 million young girls are now protected of the leading cause of this cancer, thanks to a coordinated effort made over three years by GAVI (…) and low-income countries,” the alliance said in a statement.
“Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of countries, partners, civil society and communities, we achieved this goal earlier than anticipated,” noted Dr. Sania Nistar, president of the international alliance based on public and private funding to vaccinate children in the poorest countries.
“This collective effort contributes to major global progress towards eradicating one of the deadliest diseases for women“, as well as today every two minutes, a woman dies of cervical cancer“, he continued.
This form of cancer hits them harder low income countries, which often lack preventive medicine services and equitable access to treatments. In these countries it corresponded to 90% of the 350,000 deaths due to cervical cancer recorded on 2022according to GAVI.
The human papillomavirus vaccine is proving to be particularly effective, with mortality rate to be limited to 17.4 deaths per 1,000 vaccinated children.
GAVI’s efforts have prevented a total of 1.4 million deaths, the alliance estimates. More than 50 countries are proceeding with vaccination campaigns with its support until the end of 2025, and it is precisely those that cumulatively accounted for 89% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.
Managing to reduce the cost of vaccines and at the same time to increase the supplythanks to guaranteed order volumes to manufacturers, the alliance has secured commitments to invest in the vaccines, which in GAVI-supported countries now cost between US$2.90 and US$5.18 per dose, compared to US$100-plus elsewhere.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommended a one-dose vaccination against HPV – up from two doses previously – thus allowing twice as many girls to be immunized with existing stocks.