Due to limited access to screening and treatment, the cervical cancer incidence rate is more than 5 times higher in Kenya compared to High Income Countries (HICs)³. Inequitable access to vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is poised to worsen cervical cancer disparities in the future.

Cervical cancer stands as the predominant HPV-related disease, with approximately 99.7% of cases attributed to persistent genital high-risk HPV infection⁴. An estimated 9.1% of women in the general population harbor cervical HPV-16/18 infection at any given time, and HPVs 16 or 18 contribute to 63.1% of invasive cervical cancers². Around 70% of cervical cancer cases in Africa could potentially be prevented through HPV vaccination⁵.

Optimal vaccination times are during early adolescence before sexual debut and potential HPV exposure. Kenya has introduced HPV vaccination for 10-year-old girls, yet uptake remains sub-optimal, with only 33% receiving the first dose in 2020 and approximately 16% returning for the second dose. While COVID-19 related disruptions to immunization programs contributed to low coverage, misinformation and low demand also play significant roles⁶.