WHO: Young people only need one HPV vaccine dose to prevent cervical cancer

A single dose against human papillomavirus (HPV), responsible for cervical cancer, offers similar protection to receiving two doses in children under 21 years of age, World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination policy experts confirmed Monday.

"This could be a game-changer for disease prevention, seeing more doses of the life-saving injection reaching more girls," the WHO said.

Different cervical cancers are almost all caused by HPV infection, which is sexually transmissible. Vaccines against this virus have been available since the mid-2000s, but until today, two doses were recommended.

Based on the latest data, the WHO expert committee stated that a single dose could protect young girls between 9 and 14 years old and 15 and 20 years.

Thanks to these recommendations, more girls and women can be vaccinated "while maintaining the necessary level of protection," said the president of this committee, Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, clarifying that vaccination plans may continue to administer two doses if they deem it necessary.

On the other hand, WHO experts continue to recommend two doses six months apart for women over 21 years of age. "For immunocompromised people, especially those with HIV, we recommend two doses, even three," Cravioto said.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide. In 2020, two-dose vaccine coverage reached only 13% of the world's women. The same year, this type of cancer caused the death of approximately 342,000 women, a large percentage of them residents of low-income countries, according to a statement published by the WHO in early 2021 and cited by Consultor Salud.