The Irish HPV vaccination programme, launched in 2010 for 12–13-year-old girls through schools, initially achieved over 80% uptake but faced a severe confidence crisis in 2015–2017 due to misinformation from parent groups and media coverage. Stakeholder engagement was central to recovery, involving parents, cancer advocacy groups, educators, and healthcare professionals to establish consistent, factual messaging. […]
Year: 2022
The importance of effective communication and the need for a crisis communication plan – India Experience
The presentation by Dr. Veena Dhawan highlights the global strategy for cervical cancer elimination and India’s commitment to introduce HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 under the UIP. It identifies major communication challenges, including low awareness, misconceptions, and hesitancy among parents, adolescents, and health workers. Drawing lessons from regional and Indian experiences, the strategy emphasizes […]
Communication tools for culturally sensitive context
The presentation outlines culturally sensitive communication strategies for HPV vaccination targeting girls aged 9–14 in India. It highlights challenges such as limited awareness, myths, and parental resistance, particularly among out-of-school girls. Strategies emphasize contextualized messaging, youth involvement, and leveraging school ambassadors, community leaders, and faith influencers. Integration with existing adolescent health programs and convergence across […]
The importance of effective communication and the need for a crisis communication plan – Q&A Session
The Q&A session examined lessons from past HPV vaccination challenges, focusing on misinformation crises in Ireland, Japan, and Mongolia. Participants stressed the need for rapid, decisive risk communication and stronger medical community support to prevent program collapses. Discussions highlighted cultural sensitivities around sexuality and parental perceptions influencing adolescent vaccination. Insights from HIV and COVID-19 campaigns […]
HPV vaccine roll-out in Sri Lanka; lessons learned from planning process
Sri Lanka’s HPV vaccine introduction process began with extensive evidence generation in 2009, including studies on HPV prevalence, genotype distribution, and cervical cancer burden. Cost analyses evaluated screening and treatment expenses, vaccination strategies (age, campaign vs. routine, school vs. community), and program feasibility. After initial rejection in 2010 due to high vaccine costs, a 2015 […]
HPV Vaccine roll-out experience in Sikkim: lessons learned for sustainable coverage
The presentation describes Sikkim’s HPV vaccine rollout, emphasizing multi-sectoral collaboration between health, education, social justice, rural and urban development departments, and local administrative leaders. Oversight was provided through multiple state and district committees, including a State Technical Advisory Group (STAG) and task forces. Operational planning followed a bottom-up approach with preparedness assessments and distribution of […]
Planning Roadmap towards HPV Vaccination Introduction
The presentation from Pakistan outlines the preparatory work for introducing HPV vaccination into the national immunization program, which is not yet implemented despite significant disease burden. Cervical cancer ranks as one of the top causes of female mortality, with 5,000–7,000 new cases annually. A national roadmap was mandated by the Ministry of Health and EPI, […]
HPV Vaccination Programmes – Lessons Learned and Planning – Q&A Session
This Q&A followed the session “HPV Vaccination Programs: Peer Exchange on Lessons Learned from Planning and Introduction.” Participants raised practical questions to speakers from Sikkim, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan on key aspects of HPV vaccine rollout: consent models, management of out-of-school adolescents, and integration with existing health or school platforms. Discussions addressed global supply challenges, […]
HPV Vaccination Introduction – Global Overview on HPV vaccination introduction status
Dr. Emmanuel Njambe’s presentation provided a global overview of HPV vaccine introduction, framed within the WHO 2030 targets for cervical cancer elimination (90–70–90). He highlighted that while two-thirds of countries have introduced the vaccine, they account for only one-third of the target adolescent girls, with large populations in countries like India and China still unvaccinated. […]
Overview on HPV vaccination delivery approaches and platforms
This presentation reviewed global and regional strategies for HPV vaccine delivery, emphasizing school-based, outreach, and health facility platforms. It highlighted cost-effectiveness considerations (targeting $10–25 per fully vaccinated child) and the importance of equity-focused approaches to reach out-of-school girls. The speakers showcased integrated models like Tanzania’s HPV-Plus, combining vaccination with adolescent health services (nutrition, SRH education, […]