Latest estimates indicate that 69 per cent of eligible adolescent girls in Kenya have now received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. [Courtesy]
Kenya has recorded an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls, marking one of the country's strongest gains in routine immunisation as global health agencies warn that millions of children worldwide are still missing life-saving vaccines.
New estimates released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF show that 472,845 adolescent girls received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine between January and June 2026, up from 258,698 during the same period last year.
The increase of more than 80 per cent reflects intensified efforts by the Ministry of Health, with support from UNICEF, WHO and other partners, to protect girls against cervical cancer.
The latest estimates indicate that 69 per cent of eligible adolescent girls in Kenya have now received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, highlighting steady progress in expanding access to one of the country's most important cancer prevention programmes.
