WHO experts recommend HPV shot for girls aged 4–8

The World Health Organization's vaccine experts have advised countries to consider introducing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to girls as young as 4 years old, in order to boost the global uptake rate. Currently, HPV vaccination coverage stands at 33%, which is significantly below the WHO's target of 90%. Anthony Scott, who chairs the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), stated that a single-dose HPV schedule for girls aged 4 to 8 could be the most efficient method to reach this goal.

HPV is responsible for the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, causing approximately 604,000 new cases and 280,000 deaths in 2024. As of the end of 2025, over 95 million girls have received the HPV vaccine. SAGE recommends expanding HPV vaccination to additional target groups, prioritized in the following order: catch-up vaccination for women aged up to 25, then women aged up to 30, routine vaccination for boys aged 9 to 14, and catch-up vaccination for males up to 20.

Currently, there are eight licensed HPV vaccines available. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in 26 countries, primarily located in sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South and Central America, Melanesia, and Southeast Asia. The global HPV vaccine coverage remains at 33%, falling short of the WHO's target of 90%.