Nepal's Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign

Introduction

On World Cancer Day, Nepal initiated a national campaign to vaccinate over 1.6 million girls aged 10-15 against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a major cause of cervical cancer.

Campaign Details

The campaign, running from February 4 to February 18, aims to provide a single dose of the HPV vaccine to both school-going and out-of-school girls. This decision aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization and Nepal's National Immunization Advisory Committee.

Implementation

With support from the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI), which supplied 1,770,400 doses, the campaign will utilize 18,900 schools and 8,200 health facilities as vaccination centers. Over 27,000 health workers and 54,000 female community health volunteers will assist in the effort.

Background and Impact

Last year, Nepal administered two doses of the HPV vaccine to around 9,000 girls. The WHO has found that a single-dose schedule is effective, prompting this campaign. Countries like Bhutan and Sri Lanka have also implemented similar programs. Early treatment can prevent up to 80% of cervical cancer cases.

Future Plans

The Nepal government plans to include the HPV vaccine in its routine immunization list, targeting around 350,000 girls aged 10 years. The UN health body supports HPV vaccination as a strategy to prevent cervical cancer.