HPV vaccine: Single-dose regimen under debate for cancer prevention

Medical specialists are evaluating the potential to reduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination schedule from two doses to a single dose. A study conducted in Costa Rica indicated that a single dose provided approximately 97% protection against cervical cancer in girls, a result comparable to the two-dose regimen.

While the single-dose approach shows promise, experts note that data remains more limited regarding its effectiveness against other cancers in girls and HPV-related cancers in boys. Consequently, many specialists continue to recommend the two-dose schedule for now.

The HPV vaccine is a critical tool for cancer prevention, capable of preventing more than 90% of cancers caused by the virus, including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. In the United States, the CDC reports that approximately 49,908 HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed annually.

Despite its efficacy, vaccination rates among adolescents in the U.S. have remained relatively stable at around 63% for the two-dose series. Experts attribute lower uptake compared to other adolescent vaccines, partly because most states do not mandate HPV vaccination for school attendance.