Zero cervical cancer cases: What Kenya can learn from England’s HPV vaccine success
HPV vaccine protects children against precancerous lesions and cervical diseases.
What you need to know:
- A new analysis published in The Lancet reveals that England's HPV vaccination programme has led to a substantial drop in cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20–29, with cases becoming exceedingly rare in vaccinated populations.
When the US Food and Drug Administration approved the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2006, it was hailed as a game changer that would help reduce cervical cancer cases. Kenya introduced the HPV vaccine into its routine immunisation on October 18, 2019, targeting young school-going girls. High-income countries had already embedded it in their systems and were slowly recording progress.
Now, a new first-of-its-kind analysis published in the scientific journal The Lancet shows the promising impact that the introduction of the HPV vaccine in England has had on girls. The researchers analysed cervical cancer-related trends from 2001, before HPV vaccine approval, to 2024 among women aged 20 to 29. They observed a "substantial reduction" in cervical cancer deaths, attributing it to the national HPV vaccination programme.
Also read: Why I gave my child the HPV vaccine
"These data suggest that HPV vaccination programmes for adolescent females can lead to reduced deaths from cervical cancer, reinforcing the importance of achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage, particularly in females aged 12–15 years (while most are still sexually inactive)," the study states.
In the English setting, the study shows that the highest vaccination coverage corresponds to around 90 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine at age 12–13 years or as part of catch-up programmes in school years 9 and 10.
According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Kenya after breast cancer, accounting for about 5,845 new cases and 3,600 deaths annually. As of last year, Kenya transitioned to a single-dose HPV vaccination for better adherence, aligning with WHO's Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, which targets 90 percent of girls fully vaccinated by age 15.
Benda Kithaka, a health policy advocate and founder of Kilele Health who also champions cervical cancer elimination, told Nation that the findings from England are remarkable, but not surprising
"This is one of the strongest pieces of real-world evidence yet that HPV vaccination can dramatically reduce cervical cancer incidence, to the point where cases become exceedingly rare among vaccinated populations," she said.
"For Kenya, this is an important reminder that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers we can realistically eliminate as a public health problem if we invest consistently in vaccination, screening, and treatment," she added.
She said the study provides important backing that will strengthen public confidence in Kenya's HPV vaccination programme. She told parents and communities that the vaccine is not an experiment; it is a proven intervention that protects girls from developing cervical cancer later in life. "As parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to provide our children with the best environment to reach their life goals. HPV vaccination today protects their future," she said.
When the vaccine was introduced in the country, there was some resistance, especially from religious leaders. Last year, the Catholic Church in Kenya shifted its stance for the first time to support its adoption and use by its members. In the same year, religious leaders from the northern part of Kenya also allowed HPV vaccination uptake in their community for the first time.
"In my experience, vaccine hesitancy is rarely just about science; it is often about trust. When faith leaders, healthcare workers, survivors, and communities work together, uptake improves substantially. Support from faith leaders will be critical if Kenya is to achieve its national targets and contribute to the global goal of eliminating cervical cancer," said Benda.
Through her association, Benda said they worked hand in hand to bring dialogues around science and faith to the forefront. She said the growing support from religious leaders, including Catholic and Muslim leaders, is extremely significant, as they are among the most trusted voices in many communities. Their endorsement, she noted, helps address fears, misinformation, and misconceptions that may prevent parents from vaccinating their daughters.
Benda told Nation that improving uptake will require sustained community engagement, clear and consistent messaging, stronger school and community outreach, and ensuring vaccines are reliably available where girls live and learn. "We also need to involve parents, teachers, faith leaders, and the adolescent girls themselves in conversations about prevention," she recommended.
"With continued active engagement from civil society organisations, as well as strategic media engagement, the immediate impacts we are already seeing include increased awareness about cervical cancer prevention, growing acceptance of vaccination, and stronger conversations around girls' health," she added.
She believes that the greatest impact will be fewer HPV infections, fewer pre-cancerous lesions, and ultimately far fewer women developing or dying from cervical cancer. "The evidence from England shows us what is possible; Kenya now has an opportunity to write its own success story," she said.
