Human papillomavirus vaccine coverage in Rwanda: a population-level analysis by birth cohort

In a new study published in the journal Vaccine, researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partners from the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and Université Claude Bernard (Lyon, France) estimate the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among cohorts of girls in Rwanda. HPV vaccination coverage at a population level is a key indicator of the future burden of cervical cancer, which is by far the most common cancer type in women in Rwanda.

In 2011, Rwanda became the first country in Africa to implement national HPV vaccination. After an initial catch-up campaign that targeted school grades and included older girls, the programme transitioned to an age-based approach, with routine vaccination of only girls aged 12 years, from 2015 onwards. More than 1.15 million girls in Rwanda received a first dose of HPV vaccine in 2011–2018 as part of this programme. Population-level HPV vaccination coverage increased from 6% for girls born in 1993 up to a maximum of 99% for those born in 2002.

Sayinzoga F, Umulisa MC, Sibomana H, Tenet V, Baussano I, Clifford GM
Human papillomavirus vaccine coverage in Rwanda: a population-level analysis by birth cohort
Vaccine, Published online 24 April 2020;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.021

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