South Africa’s national HPV vaccination programme has delivered over seven million doses to more than four million girls between 2014 and 2024, reducing the prevalence of high-risk HPV types by 83% among vaccine-eligible adolescents, according to the Department of Health and recent peer-reviewed studies.
Launched in 2014 as a school-based, free two-dose programme, the vaccination targets HPV strains 16 and 18, which cause the majority of cervical cancer cases. The Lancet Global Health study published in 2026 confirmed that HPV-16 and HPV-18 prevalence dropped from 21.6% to just 3.2% among vaccinated girls, including those living with HIV.
“South Africa’s free, school-based two-dose national vaccination programme against the cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) is effective,” a Nature news summary of the study stated.
By the 2024/2025 school year, the Department of Health reported an 88% coverage rate among eligible girls nationwide. This expansive reach contributes to a decline in HPV infections that drive cervical cancer, which still claimed 5,165 lives in South Africa in recent years, as reported by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In addition to vaccination, South Africa transitioned in 2024 to HPV-based screening in public healthcare facilities, replacing traditional pap smears in line with World Health Organization recommendations. This approach aims to improve early detection of high-risk HPV infections and prevent progression to cancer.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Dr Vincent Shongwe told media in October 2026, “We lose some patients … They don’t come back for the results,” highlighting gaps in patient follow-up and access to treatment.
Efforts to bridge these gaps include initiatives like a mobile clinic launched in Bushbuckridge to offer rapid HPV testing and same-day treatment, as part of the national cervical cancer elimination framework. While unverified beyond the original report, the clinic aims to improve reach in rural communities where laboratory turnaround times can delay care by up to 12 weeks.
Community and government leaders emphasise the importance of partnerships to accelerate progress. Health spokesperson Sasekani Manzini said at a recent webinar, “We are grateful for this meaningful gesture… public-private partnerships are crucial in accelerating service delivery and ensuring that no one is left behind.” Meanwhile, advocates caution that vaccinating boys should be considered for fuller HPV prevention, with Nonhlanhla Ndlovu noting, “If you really wanted to go all the way in terms of prevention of HPV, you would have to vaccinate both boys and girls.”
South Africa’s integrated approach of widespread HPV vaccination, improved screening, and community outreach is a major public health gain in a country still burdened by high cervical cancer mortality. Continued efforts are needed to close the treatment gap and ensure timely follow-up for all women at risk.
The Department of Health is expected to release updated data on screening and vaccination coverage in the coming months, while reports on the operational impact of new mobile clinics in rural areas will be closely watched.