The Kenyan Government may extend the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme to boys as the country boosts efforts to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, and amid concern over low completion rates for the jab among girls, reports CapitalFM Africa.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga said vaccinating boys could become an important part of Kenya’s long-term disease prevention strategy, although the current programme remains focused on girls.
He added that the latest Mini Demographic and Health Survey had found that only 20% of girls have received the recommended second dose: 59% had received at least one dose of the vaccine, an increase from the 30% recorded in the 2022 survey.
However, the significant drop between first-dose and second-dose coverage raises concerns about the country’s ability to ensure that more girls complete the recommended vaccination schedule.
Oluga acknowledged that more efforts are needed to strengthen HPV vaccination and expand protection against the virus, and that the government could consider extending the programme to boys in the future, describing it as an important area for further attention.
The survey had also highlighted the burden of cervical cancer in Kenya: the disease affects around 7 000 women every year.
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