Accra: Ghana has successfully vaccinated about 1.9 million girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) following a nationwide campaign conducted in October 2025, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Selorm Kutsuati, the Acting Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), mentioned in an interview that despite the significant progress, nearly 300,000 girls in the target group were yet to receive the vaccine. The campaign aimed to protect girls aged nine to 14 against cervical cancer.
Dr. Kutsuati emphasized the importance of reaching every child, noting that the HPV vaccine has now been integrated into routine immunization services at public health facilities nationwide. Health workers are actively seeking out those who missed earlier doses, as routine immunization can slow down after mass campaigns.
To address the gap, the Ghana Health Service is intensifying school health outreach programs. Districts have prioritized schools that were not reached during the October campaign for visits this year. Parental resistance, largely due to misinformation, remains a challenge. In response, districts are engaging parents through Parent-Teacher Associations and community activities to build trust and provide accurate information about the vaccine.
The programme uses data and geospatial analysis to identify underserved areas and target the remaining eligible girls more efficiently. While the HPV vaccination programme focuses on girls aged nine to 14, there is increasing demand from adults unable to afford the vaccine in the private sector. Dr. Kutsuati assured that advocacy efforts would continue to make the vaccine affordable for adults.
She advised parents to vaccinate their daughters and encouraged adults seeking the vaccine to undergo appropriate testing. Dr. Kutsuati expressed optimism that the remaining 300,000 girls would be vaccinated within the year.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Ghana, with approximately 3,072 new cases and 1,815 deaths annually. A single dose of the Gardasil 4 (HPV) vaccine, administered to these young girls, would protect them for life.