Gavi's 3-Year Vaccine Drive Prevents 1.4 Million Cervical Cancer Deaths

As of November 17, 2025, a remarkable 3-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has protected 86 million girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer. This collaborative campaign has prevented an estimated 1.4 million future deaths from this deadly disease.

Gavi's chief executive, Sania Nishtar, has credited the "incredible commitment" of countries and organizations for helping to reach this significant milestone. The coverage rate for the HPV vaccine across Africa has risen dramatically, from just 4% of girls in 2014 to 44% by the end of 2024, outpacing the 38% rate in Europe.

Gavi has played a crucial role in driving down the price of the HPV vaccine, securing commitments from manufacturers to invest in production. As a result, the cost in Gavi-supported countries has plummeted from over $100 per dose to between $2.90 and $5.18, making the vaccine accessible to millions of girls in low-income nations.

This collaborative effort is a major step towards the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. However, Nishtar stressed that the disease still claims a woman's life every two minutes, underscoring the ongoing need for sustained action and investment in this critical area of global health.