4th HPV Vaccine Qualified for One Dose

The global shift from a 2-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine regimen to a 1-dose schedule began in 2022 to address supply shortages that have historically left individuals from low- and middle-income countries unprotected.

According to a Medical News in Brief published today by The JAMA Network, this transition accelerated on October 4, 2024, when the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified Cecolin®. This HPV vaccine, which protects people against HPV 16 and 18, is the fourth vaccine for single-dose use.

Estimates from the WHO indicate that the switch to a single-dose vaccine schedule resulted in an additional six million girls being vaccinated against HPV globally in 2023.

That year, 27% of girls aged 9 to 14 received a single dose of HPV vaccine, compared with 20% in 2022.

As of September, 57 countries, up from 37 last year, had adopted the new vaccination plan. However, the U.S. CDC recommends either a 2- or 4-dose schedule.

Currently, there are six HPV vaccines in use, and various candidates are conducting clinical studies.