WHO issues new vaccination guidelines for six infectious diseases

The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts has recommended that all infants receive three doses of the polio vaccine at six, ten, and fourteen weeks, with coverage exceeding 90 percent in countries currently administering fewer than three doses.

The panel also endorsed a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged nine to fourteen to prevent cervical cancer, and approved the use of one-fifth of the full yellow fever vaccine dose in situations of supply shortages.

Other recommendations include vaccinating high-risk groups against monkeypox during outbreaks and conducting rapid diphtheria vaccination campaigns in areas with low coverage. Regarding Bundibugyo virus disease, experts welcomed the development of new vaccines but stressed the need for robust scientific evidence from randomized clinical trials to confirm their effectiveness before making future decisions on their use.