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UAE to roll out HPV vaccination drive, targets early screening for women at 25
The nationwide campaign also aims to vaccinate 90 per cent of girls against the human papillomavirus before the age of 15 by the year 2030
- PUBLISHED: Fri 4 Apr 2025, 2:19 PM
In a major public health initiative, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has unveiled a comprehensive national strategy aimed at reducing cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
At the heart of the plan is an ambitious goal: to vaccinate 90 per cent of girls against HPV before the age of 15 by the year 2030. The strategy also calls for early routine cervical cancer screening for women starting at age 25, reinforcing the importance of early detection in improving survival rates and treatment outcomes.
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The Ministry recommended that women aged 25 to 65 undergo cervical cancer screening every three to five years. This proactive approach aims to catch potential cases early, when they are most treatable, significantly improving recovery rates and reducing long-term health complications.
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Comprehensive public approach
The strategy was launched as part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote public health and prevent communicable diseases.
The initiative is rooted in a broad public health framework focused on prevention, education, and the use of advanced immunisation technologies.
It also supports the “Year of Community” initiative, which promotes collective responsibility for health, emphasising collaboration between individuals, institutions, and society at large.
The ministry highlighted that cultivating a culture of early screening and vaccination is vital to community health and is aligned with the UAE’s vision of achieving a high quality of life and building a robust healthcare system.
According to the National Cancer Registry, cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women in the UAE. However, national incidence rates remain lower than the global average, a result attributed to the country’s effective and proactive health policies.
As part of the broader strategy, the UAE continues to invest in providing state-of-the-art treatment options that meet international standards, reaffirming its commitment to global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.
HPV vaccination programme
The UAE has been a regional leader in HPV vaccination. In 2018, it became the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean region to incorporate the HPV vaccine into its national immunisation programme for girls aged 13 to 14.
In 2023, the programme was expanded to include boys in the same age group, enhancing community-wide protection and addressing HPV-related health risks across both genders.