Experts from the World Health Organization recommended Tuesday that countries consider introducing human papillomavirus vaccination for girls aged four to eight years to improve immunization coverage globally.
Anthony Scott, chair of the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, announced the recommendation during a presentation of results from the group's recent biannual meeting in Geneva. Approximately 165 countries have already introduced HPV vaccines, Scott told reporters.
Current global HPV vaccination coverage stands at 33 percent, significantly below the WHO's target of 90 percent. Scott emphasized that expanding vaccination to younger age groups could help countries reach higher immunization rates.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection and the leading cause of cervical cancer, the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In 2024, the disease accounted for 604,000 new cases and 280,000 deaths globally, according to WHO data.
The recommendation builds on previous WHO guidance. In 2022, the organization determined that a single dose of HPV vaccine provided similar protection to two doses for children aged nine to fourteen years.
Scott indicated that countries could consider the expanded age range as a strategy to increase vaccination coverage in their populations. The WHO's updated guidance suggests that vaccination of younger girls, under certain conditions, may help nations move closer to the global immunization target.