Kenya is switching from a double-dose to a single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine schedule starting October 2025 in a move to eliminate cervical cancer.
Speaking on Wednesday during the opening of the Coalition to Strengthen HPV Immunization Community (CHIC) symposium 2025, Director of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth said the move follows the recommendation of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), which confirmed that one dose provides the same robust protection as multiple doses.
Dr. Amoth noted that the change positions Kenya as a leader in evidence-based innovation adding that it will make vaccination more accessible, cost-effective, and sustainable.
“Through the CHIC platform, we create more than dialogue, we forge partnerships, accelerate innovation, and build sustainable solutions that will protect millions of girls. We gather here to shape science-informed policies, optimize program implementation, and accelerate our progress toward elimination.” Dr. Amoth noted.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection with over 200 types that can cause genital warts, precancerous lesions, and various cancers, including cervical, throat, and skin cancers.
The three day symposium has brought together assembly of experts, practitioners, and advocates from 20 countries across Africa (Kenya, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, DRC Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Siera Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe) focused on advancing sustainable HPV vaccination programs.
The symposium is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jhpiego, the University of Antwerp and the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Challenges before us
According to Dr. Amoth, cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally, yet it is almost entirely preventable.
“Tragically, 94pc of the 350,000 annual deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where HPV vaccination and screening programs are still scaling up.” He remarked.
In Kenya, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer deaths with 10 women losing their lives to the disease every day.
Amoth says Dr. Amoth warned that without decisive action, this number could rise from 10 to 22 daily deaths by 2040.
“Here in Kenya, the human cost is devastating: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer deaths. Every day, 10 women in Kenya lose their lives to cervical cancer, and without decisive action, this number could rise to 22 daily deaths by 2040.” He warned. Adding that: “These are not mere statistics they represent our mothers, daughters, sisters, and leaders whose potential is cut short by a preventable disease.”
The World Health Organization gave a clear roadmap through the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer. The 90-70-90 targets are ambitious yet achievable: 90pc of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15, 70pc of women screened at ages 35 and 45, and 90pc of women with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment.
Global HPV vaccine coverage has risen only modestly from 20pc to 27pc since 2022. In low- and middle-income countries, only 23pc of adolescent girls have been reached.
The Director of Health says Kenya has made remarkable progress in HPV vaccination, more than doubling first-dose coverage among 10- to 14-year-old girls from just 24pc in 2022 to over 60pc by end of 2024. “Importantly, second-dose coverage has also risen sharply, nearly doubling from 17pc in 2022 to 30pc in 2024, underscoring the country’s strong momentum as it prepares for the HPV two-dose schedule switch.”
Government interventions
The Government of Kenya has resolved to: Strengthen health facility vaccination strategies to ensure no eligible girl is missed, by integrating adolescent-friendly services, empowering health workers with tailored communication, leveraging data to close coverage gaps, and reinforcing community linkages.
Similarly, Dr. Amoth noted that government plans to expand school-based vaccination platforms to reach girls in primary grade five, while working closely with the Ministry of Education and education stakeholders to improve coverage.
The government plans to also expand community outreach through health workers and civil society partners, ensuring out-of-school girls and girls in hard-to-reach areas are not left behind.
Further there will be scaling up demand generation, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation and build vaccine confidence, especially through local leaders, faith-based organizations, and youth networks.
Additionally the government is set to invest in innovative, evidence-based approaches including Human-Centered Design to ensure we reach 90pc of our girls with the HPV vaccine.
Call to action
Dr. Amoth called on researchers, donors, governments, policymakers, implementing partners, healthcare workers, educators, media, and communities to deepen collaboration and make HPV vaccination a central pillar of cervical cancer elimination.
“Every vaccine delivered is a life protected, a family spared from grief, and a community strengthened. The future of millions of African girls and our boys too, since HPV affects them as well depends on the decisions we make here. Let us make HPV vaccination a central pillar of cervical cancer elimination.” He urged.
