3 July, 2026

The HPV vaccine is one of public health’s biggest success stories. A major UK study recently found that women vaccinated against HPV at ages 12–13 have an almost zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30. Even more strikingly, no women aged 20–24 died from cervical cancer in England between 2020 and 2024. Researchers estimate that the programme has already prevented around 200 deaths.

But these remarkable results come with an important reminder: vaccines only work when people trust them enough to take them.

The UK shows what is possible when vaccination rates remain high. Japan shows the opposite. After concerns about vaccine safety gained traction in 2013, HPV vaccine uptake collapsed despite the science remaining unchanged. Experts now warn that this loss of confidence could lead to thousands of preventable cases of cervical cancer in the years ahead.

This is why organisations such as the Vaccine Confidence Project focus on understanding and addressing public concerns, monitoring vaccine sentiment, and helping to build trust before misinformation affects uptake. Their work recognises that knowledge, emotions and social norms can be just as important as medical evidence.

Our work with SKY Girls Kenya reflects this challenge. Originally focused on tobacco prevention and later HIV, the programme now also addresses HPV vaccination. Research found that while many girls had heard of the vaccine, almost half did not know it protects against cervical cancer and some had concerns about side effects. To address this, SKY uses relatable, girl-centred content that builds knowledge, confidence and trust around health decisions. One recent example can be seen in this SKY Girls Kenya HPV video.

The science behind HPV vaccination is increasingly clear. As this success story enters its next chapter, the key question is no longer whether the vaccine works, but how we ensure every girl has the knowledge, confidence and support to benefit from it.

By Emma Alajarin