Cervical cancer vaccine: improving access for prevention and control

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable of all cancers. Screening can detect cervical cell changes before they become cancerous lesions and treatment has excellent survival outcomes. The commercial launch of a vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in 2006 meant that future generations of women can go into their sexually active years protected from the viruses that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. Yet every year, cervical cancer causes approximately 275,000 deaths, with 85% of those deaths occurring in developing countries. The figure is estimated to rise to 430,000 by 2030 but the death toll could be reversed if young girls in low- and middle-income countries can be reached for HPV vaccination. That breakthrough may now be possible as Gavi, which funds vaccines for children in the world’s 73 poorest countries, has set a target of supporting the vaccination of 30 million girls against HPV by 2020. Gavi-funded pilot projects are...