90% of Girls in UAE to Be Vaccinated Against HPV by 2030

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched a national strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer and reducing diseases linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). A central objective of the initiative is to vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV before the age of 15 by the year 2030. The plan also calls for routine cervical cancer screenings for women beginning at age 25.

Cervical cancer remains the fifth most common cancer among women in the UAE. While national incidence rates are lower than the global average, MoHAP underscored the importance of early detection and prevention through a combined approach of vaccination and regular screening. The strategy aligns with broader national goals to enhance healthcare quality and raise overall life expectancy.

The UAE was the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean region to introduce the HPV vaccine into its national immunisation programme, beginning with girls aged 13 to 14 in 2018. In 2023, the programme was extended to include boys in the same age group, broadening community-level protection against the virus and its associated health risks.

The ministry’s updated plan is part of a long-term public health framework aimed at reducing the burden of preventable cancers and strengthening immunisation coverage nationwide.