Rwanda will introduce the more comprehensive Gardasil 9 vaccine into its national immunisation programme from 2026, a significant step in its strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027. The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) confirmed the plan, which could make Rwanda the first African nation to adopt the advanced vaccine nationally.
The move follows updated World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines from December 2022, which removed age restrictions for HPV vaccination. Rwanda first introduced the HPV vaccine in 2011, targeting girls aged 9 to 14. The new rollout will expand eligibility to include women aged 29 to 35 who missed earlier vaccination efforts, with the final age range contingent on vaccine availability.
Gardasil 9 protects against nine high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains, compared to the four covered by the currently used Gardasil 4. Research from Rwandan hospitals, including Butaro, indicates that Gardasil 4 does not protect against HPV type 45, which is responsible for approximately 13.6% of cervical cancer cases in the country. Gardasil 9 includes this strain, offering broader protection against the virus types that cause most cervical, vaginal, vulval, anal, penile, and throat cancers, as well as genital warts.
“The rollout aligns with WHO guidelines… enabling adult women to be included in cervical cancer prevention programmes,” said Hassan Sibomana, Director of the RBC Vaccine Programmes Unit. He noted that priority will be given to women who have never been vaccinated and remain at risk.
Despite a global market price of about $330 per dose, the vaccine will be provided free in Rwanda’s public health facilities. Sibomana stated that procurement is currently underway, and training for healthcare workers will commence upon vaccine arrival to support nationwide distribution.
The expansion builds on Rwanda’s established public health infrastructure and its history as an early adopter of HPV vaccination in Africa. By integrating Gardasil 9, the country aims to close critical protection gaps and accelerate progress toward its ambitious cervical cancer elimination target.
