International School-Based HPV Vaccination Programmes: A Comparative Analysis and Recommendations for Adaptation to the French Context

School-based vaccination is a major strategy for improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage, but implementation varies across countries. This study aimed to identify common organisational components of international school-based HPV vaccination programmes, compare their implementation, and examine their transferability to France.

A comparative documentary analysis of programmes in four purposively selected countries (Australia, England, Finland, and Sweden) was conducted between July and August 2026. Scientific and institutional sources were analysed using a common framework covering programme organisation, consent, communication, catch-up, equity, and monitoring. The identified components were examined in relation to the French organisational, regulatory, and sociocultural context.

Six common organisational components were identified: national leadership and structured local implementation; school-based delivery; organised consent; multichannel communication tailored to families and adolescents; catch-up mechanisms; and information systems supporting identification and follow-up of the target population. Implementation approaches varied across countries, suggesting that transferability depends more on the functions fulfilled by these components than on replicating specific organisational arrangements.

No single school-based HPV vaccination model can be directly transferred across countries. Adapting the identified components to France could support a continuous, coordinated vaccination pathway and reduce missed vaccination opportunities while accounting for national specificities.