Ghana to launch nationwide HPV vaccination campaign targeting girls aged nine to 14 to fight cervical cancer

Ghana will commence a nationwide vaccination campaign against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) from October 7 to 11, targeting girls aged nine to 14 years, in a bid to eliminate cervical cancer, the country’s second most common cancer among women.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) stated that each girl will receive a single dose of the HPV vaccine, which will later be integrated into the national routine immunization schedule for girls from age nine. Globally, cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women, with 662,301 new cases and 348,874 deaths recorded in 2022, over 90 per cent of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries. In Ghana, 3,072 new cases and 1,815 related deaths were reported in 2022.

Medical experts note that over 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infections with high-risk HPV types, particularly HPV 16 and 18, which account for about 71 per cent of cases worldwide. The Ministry of Health and GHS have adopted a single-dose strategy using Gardasil 4, manufactured by Merck & Co., which protects against HPV types 16 and 18 as well as types 6 and 11, responsible for anogenital warts.

The vaccination campaign will primarily be school-based, with community and health facility options available to reach out-of-school girls. Health officials emphasise that vaccinating 80 per cent of girls within this age group could also reduce HPV infections in boys, contributing to broader community protection. Recent studies in Kenya, India, Costa Rica, and Tanzania confirm that a single dose provides long-lasting protection, effective for at least 10 years.

Authorities have urged health workers to address misconceptions that associate the HPV vaccine with family planning or early sexual activity, reassuring parents that the vaccine is safe, widely used, and strictly for cancer prevention. Mild side effects such as pain or redness at the injection site may occur, but no serious adverse effects have been reported. Health workers are encouraged to educate communities through PTA meetings, church groups, and local radio platforms to build trust and acceptance.

The campaign aligns with the World Health Organisation’s global “90–70–90” strategy, which aims for 90 per cent of girls to be fully vaccinated by age 15, 70 per cent of women screened at least once in their lifetime, and 90 per cent of women with cervical disease receiving treatment by 2030. If successful, this initiative could reduce global cervical cancer incidence by 42 per cent by 2045 and prevent more than 62 million deaths by 2120.

Health officials describe the introduction of the HPV vaccine as a turning point in Ghana’s fight against cervical cancer, emphasising that with strong community support, the country can achieve high vaccination coverage and secure a future free from the threat of cervical cancer.