Ecofin Agency spoke with Emily Kobayashi, Head of the HPV vaccine program at Gavi, about progress in HPV vaccination across Africa, the results achieved so far, and the remaining challenges.
According to Gavi, the alliance  estimates that it has  already protected 86 million girls in lower-income countries, reaching this milestone ahead of schedule, with Africa at the center of the global fight against cervical cancer.

Ecofin Agency: Why has HPV vaccination become such a priority in Africa for Gavi and its partners?

EK (Gavi): The burden of cervical cancer in Africa is exceptionally high. Of the 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer rates in the world, 19 are in sub-Saharan Africa. This disease kills women in their 30s and 40s, at an age when they are mothers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Yet 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and the infection is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. Countries that introduced the HPV vaccine twenty years ago have seen their cervical cancer rates fall dramatically, sometimes close to zero. African countries introducing the vaccine today can expect similar results in the coming decades.

“Africa is now one of the world’s most advanced regions on HPV vaccination”

Ecofin Agency: What is the current level of HPV vaccine adoption across the continent?

EK (Gavi): Africa is leading. Thirty-two countries have already introduced the HPV vaccine, and others such as Djibouti and Benin will do so soon. In 2024, 47% of eligible girls in Africa were vaccinated. This is one of the highest coverage rates globally, surpassing Europe and South-East Asia.

By the end of 2025, the vaccine will be available in countries representing 89% of the world’s cervical cancer burden, which means reaching the girls most at risk. Gavi-supported lower-income countries are also closing equity gaps quickly: by the end of 2024, their coverage was only three percentage points behind the global average (25% vs 28%), and this gap continues to shrink thanks to the rapid shift to a single-dose schedule.

These trends reflect strong political commitment and delivery strategies tailored to local realities.

“The HPV vaccine is now more affordable than ever”

Ecofin Agency: How is Gavi supporting countries financially and programmatically?

EK (Gavi) : Our role is to ensure affordability and long-term stability. Today, HPV vaccines are more accessible than ever, thanks to Gavi’s market-shaping work.
In Gavi-supported countries, HPV vaccine prices range from US$2.90 to US$5.18 per dose, compared to US$100 or more elsewhere. This dramatic price reduction has been essential for rapid scale-up across African countries.

Between 2014 and 2024, cervical cancer deaths averted by HPV vaccination generated over US$2.3 billion in economic benefits, much of it in Africa. Gavi works closely with governments, education systems, and community leadership to sustain annual vaccination of new cohorts of girls.

“Reaching out-of-school girls requires flexible delivery models”

Ecofin Agency: How do you reach girls who are not in school?

EK (Gavi) : It is easier to vaccinate a girl in a classroom, but we have to reach every adolescent. African countries have developed a wide range of strategies.

In Ethiopia, mobile teams travel to nomadic communities to vaccinate girls where they live.
In Cameroon, door-to-door campaigns in urban areas helped reach girls who were outside the school system.
In other countries, community health workers identify eligible girls and mobilize them to community vaccination points on scheduled days.

These tailored approaches help close equity gaps and ensure that the most vulnerable girls are reached.

“Community and religious leaders are essential to counter misinformation”

Ecofin Agency: How do you address vaccine hesitancy?

EK (Gavi) : Whenever a new vaccine is introduced, concerns and misinformation emerge. We have seen that equipping the right community leaders with accurate information can make a decisive difference.

A traditional leader offering his home as a vaccination point sends a strong message. Similarly, when an imam or district EPI manager in Nigeria brings his own daughter to be vaccinated first, it builds immediate trust.

We also work with cervical cancer survivors, whose testimonies are powerful in explaining why prevention matters and how vaccination can save lives.

Ecofin Agency: What impact has the single-dose schedule had?

EK (Gavi) : It has been transformative. A single dose allows us to protect twice as many girls with the same supply. For country programs, it is far easier to vaccinate a girl once than to track her down again six or twelve months later. In Africa, over 70% of countries have adopted the single-dose strategy. Some now reach coverage levels close to 99% in their target cohorts. Furthermore, more than 32.5 million girls were vaccinated in 2024 alone, compared to fewer than two million per year before 2019.

Ecofin Agency: Beyond vaccination, what system-wide gains do you observe?

EK (Gavi) : Adolescents aged 9–14 rarely interact with the health system. HPV vaccination creates a unique entry point. In Tanzania, the “HPV Plus” model combines vaccination with nutrition screening, vision checks, and deworming tablets.
These services target girls but also boys of the same age, ensuring fairness and strengthening school-health system collaboration. This model improves data collection, increases adolescent contact with health services, and expands preventive care.

Ecofin Agency: What should African countries prioritise in the next 12 months?

EK (Gavi) : Countries that have not yet introduced the HPV vaccine should do so now. The evidence is strong, the vaccine is affordable, and the public health rationale is clear.

For countries already vaccinating, continuity is the priority. They must ensure annual funding to reach each new cohort of 9-year-old girls and maintain successful community outreach and school-based strategies.

Ecofin Agency: Can you share a concrete example?

EK (Gavi) : One strong example comes from Kenya. Two organizations, Kilele Health and AHETI, organized a multi-day workshop with religious leaders.
They walked them through the scientific evidence and addressed all their concerns.
 By the end, these leaders were ready to advocate for HPV vaccination within their faith communities. Their influence is tremendous.

“2030 will be a decisive horizon”

Ecofin Agency: What are the next steps for Gavi through 2030?

EK (Gavi) : Several West African countries are launching catch-up campaigns to vaccinate girls up to 18 years old.
Between 2026 and 2030, Gavi aims to support 120 million additional girls to be protected against cervical cancer.
Africa will remain a priority. Every girl vaccinated today is a case of cervical cancer avoided in twenty years. It represents healthier families, stronger communities, and more resilient economies.

Interview by Ayi Renaud Dossavi