Human papillomavirus prophylactic vaccines: update on new vaccine development and implications for single-dose policy

Human papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines were first licensed in 2006 with the primary goal of preventing HPV-related cancers, with cervical cancer accounting for the highest morbidity and mortality globally. Six HPV vaccines have been licensed; 4 of these have been prequalified by the World Health Organization, and additional products are in the pipeline. This article provides an overview of HPV vaccine coverage and current and anticipated vaccine supply vs expected demand. Given that the 2022 World Health Organization position paper on HPV vaccines includes a 1-dose regimen as an alternate schedule, we will discuss the evidence for using licensed vaccines in single-dose regimens and the approach to generating similar supportive data for other current and future vaccines. The broad adoption of a single-dose HPV vaccine regimen would expand access to vaccines by improving the supply-demand balance, increasing affordability, and simplifying logistics, which will ultimately impact HPV-related morbidity and mortality.