WHO experts recommend changes to polio, HPV and yellow fever vaccination schedules

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts of the World Health Organization has recommended strengthening polio vaccination programs, adopting a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14, and allowing the use of reduced doses of the yellow fever vaccine in case of supply shortages. The recommendations also cover vaccination against monkeypox and diphtheria, as well as evaluating candidate vaccines for the Bundibugyo virus disease.

For polio, the experts advised that all infants should receive three doses of the vaccine at six, ten, and fourteen weeks of age in countries currently administering fewer than three doses, with efforts to raise vaccination coverage above 90 percent.

The group also recommended a single dose of the HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 to prevent cervical cancer, and approved the use of one-fifth of the full yellow fever vaccine dose during supply shortages.

The recommendations include vaccinating high-risk groups against monkeypox during outbreaks, and conducting rapid diphtheria vaccination campaigns in areas with low coverage rates.

These measures aim to enhance protection for the most vulnerable populations and address gaps in immunization coverage, according to the expert group’s recommendations.

Regarding Bundibugyo virus disease, the experts welcomed the development of new vaccines but emphasized the need for robust scientific evidence from randomized clinical trials to prove their effectiveness before making future decisions on their use.