Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination and the Impact of Vaccine Implementation in Kenya: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological agent of cervical cancer, a disease that remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in Kenya despite the availability of highly effective prophylactic vaccines. This review examines the current evidence on HPV virology, vaccine immunology, global vaccine effectiveness, and the implementation of HPV vaccination in Kenya following its introduction into the national immunization program in 2019. It also evaluates progress in vaccine delivery, coverage trends, and the adoption of the single-dose vaccination schedule, while highlighting persistent challenges including vaccine hesitancy, inequitable access, health system constraints, and socioeconomic barriers. Available evidence indicates that HPV vaccination has strengthened cervical cancer prevention efforts and has the potential to substantially reduce the future burden of HPV-related disease. However, vaccine coverage remains below the World Health Organization target for cervical cancer elimination, limiting the full public health impact of the program. Key research priorities include evaluating long-term vaccine effectiveness, monitoring HPV genotype dynamics, assessing vaccine performance among people living with HIV, and strengthening the integration of HPV vaccination with cervical cancer screening programs. Achieving equitable vaccine access, enhancing surveillance systems, improving community engagement, and ensuring sustainable financing will be essential to maximizing the benefits of HPV vaccination and accelerating progress toward the elimination of cervical cancer in Kenya.