Recently, it was announced at the 21st National Cervical Cancer Collaboration Group Working Conference and the Academic Conference on the Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer in China that a total of 9 provinces and municipalities in China, including Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Tibet, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Chongqing, Hubei, and Zhejiang, have included HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination in the government's livelihood projects.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global call to action to eliminate cervical cancer and released the "Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer" in 2020. The strategy sets out interim targets to be achieved by 2030, including vaccinating 90% of girls before the age of 15 with the HPV vaccine, screening 70% of women with highly effective methods by the ages of 35 and 45, and ensuring that 90% of women diagnosed with cervical diseases receive treatment.
To implement the "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" and promote the goals of the "Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer," in October 2020, the National Health Commission, together with the National Health Commission's Planning Department, Maternal and Child Health Department, and National Cancer Center, initiated the pilot work of innovative models for promoting the Healthy China Action through the construction of healthy cities. Focusing on cancer prevention and control actions and maternal and child health promotion, the pilot work aims to explore replicable and scalable comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control service models through innovative mechanisms, comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies, enhanced technical guidance and scientific evaluation, and coordinated social resources.
Wu Xiangtian, Deputy Director of the Planning and Information Technology Department of the National Health Commission, highlighted the significant achievements of the pilot work in comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control through the construction of healthy cities to promote the Healthy China Action. Currently, among the first 15 pilot cities, 11 have implemented policies for free HPV vaccination or subsidies.
"As a pilot, accumulating early experiences well enables rapid implementation of work when conditions are ripe at the national level. We hope these experiences can be promoted nationwide as soon as possible to benefit the largest possible population," said Zhao Fanghui, Director of the Epidemiology Research Department at the National Cancer Center.
"The success of the healthy city pilot is not just about achieving a 90% vaccination rate among eligible girls within a year, but about maintaining a 90% vaccination rate for eligible girls every year," Zhao Fanghui pointed out. The HPV vaccination work for cervical cancer prevention and control in various pilot areas remains challenging. Currently, there are 5 HPV vaccine products on the market in China, including 2 domestically produced HPV vaccines, and vaccine supply has improved. However, there are still disparities in the accessibility of HPV vaccines at the national level. The vaccination rates in some low-health-resource areas for HPV vaccines remain low, and women in these areas should be given priority consideration.
Furthermore, according to Du Heng, Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization officially recommended in 2022 a single-dose HPV vaccination program for eligible women. Currently, countries like the UK and Australia have already led the way in recommending that eligible women receive only one dose of the HPV vaccine. "If we adopt a single-dose program, the feasibility of vaccine supply and the inclusion of HPV vaccines in national immunization plans will be improved. The same healthcare budget can benefit more women."
