Introduction:The World Health Organization elimination goal for cervical cancer relies on screening 70% of women at ages 35 and 45, preferentially through molecular HPV testing. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for molecular tests and platforms. Our objective was to gain insight into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the actual or anticipated shortage of tests, equipment, consumables, and staff required to deliver molecular HPV laboratory services and to consider the implications for the sustainability and development of cervical screening programs. Methods: A 19-item online questionnaire was created and made available online between December 2020 and February 2021. Five companies with clinically validated HPV and SARS-CoV-2 tests in their portfolios were invited to provide a statement on the volumes of molecular COVID-19 tests produced, relevant changes to manufacturing capacity, and their current and post-pandemic strategy for HPV tests. Results: We received responses from 57 laboratories representing 30 countries and six continents. Among these, 74% reported experiencing a supply shortage, 54% reported a shortage of personnel, and 33% reported delays in ordering equipment. Three companies described expansion of manufacturing lines, investment in diagnostic infrastructure, and scale-up of manufacturing capacity. Two companies specifically referred to opportunities for the use of platforms for COVID-19 testing to support HPV testing in time. Conclusions:The demand for SARS-CoV-2 testing is competing with HPV testing, compounded by a shortage of staff. This represents a challenge for existing laboratory services and for settings keen to implement HPV-based screening. However, supply challenges may be addressed in time, given the significant investment in manufacturing capacity. In addition, innovation around molecular COVID-19 testing systems may result in solutions that address the shortage of rapid low-cost HPV testing systems for low-resource settings. Finally, because the demand for COVID-19 testing is likely to decrease, this may release both workforce and platform capacity for high-throughput HPV testing. The global health community should be alert to the opportunities around innovation and capacity if cervical cancer elimination goals are to be reached.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and Control Board is an independent multidisciplinary board of international experts that disseminates relevant information on HPV to a broad array of stakeholders and provides guidance on strategic, technical and policy issues in the implementation of HPV control programs. In response to drastic drop of vaccine coverage following the adverse event crisis in Carmen del Bolivar, Colombia, the HPV Prevention and Control Board in collaboration with the Colombian National Cancer Institute and Colombian League Against Cancer convened a meeting in Bogota, Columbia (November 2018). The goal of the meeting was to bring together national and international group of experts to report the disease burden, epidemiology and surveillance of HPV and HPV-related cancers, to discuss the successes and especially the challenges of HPV vaccination and screening in Colombia, as well as the lessons learnt from neighbouring countries. The meeting provided a platform to confer various stakeholder's perspectives, including the role of the Colombian healthcare system and to catalyse various parts of the public health community in Colombia into effective action. The conclusion of the meeting included following suggestions to strengthen HPV prevention and control: 1) Reintroducing school-based vaccine programs, 2) Integrating primary and secondary prevention programs, 3) Developing an innovative crisis communication plan targeting healthcare workers, teachers and general population, 4) Building trust through efficient and timely communication, 5) Building strong relationship with media to ensure a stable vaccination campaign support, and 6) Promoting empathy among healthcare professionals towards patients to build trust and communicate effectively.

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Vaccination decision making in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) has become increasingly complex, particularly in the context of numerous competing health challenges. LMICs have to make difficult choices on which vaccines to prioritize for introduction while considering a wide range of factors such as disease burden, vaccine impact, vaccine characteristics, financing, health care infrastructures, whilst being adapted to each country’s specific contexts. Our scoping review reviewed the factors that influence decision-making among policymakers for the introduction of new vaccines in LMICs. We identified the specific data points that are factored into the decision-making process for new vaccine introduction, while also documenting whether there have been any changes in decision-making criteria in new vaccine introduction over the last two decades. A comprehensive data-base search was conducted using a search strategy consisting of key terms and MeSH phrases related to policy, decision-making, vaccine introduction, immunization programs, and low-and-middle-income countries. Articles were screened following PRIMSA guidelines. A total of 843 articles were identified, with 34 articles retained after abstract screening, full-text screening, and grading with the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT). The Burchett et al. (2012) framework for new vaccine introduction was used to identify indicators for vaccine-decision making and guided data extraction. Articles in our study represented a diverse range of perspectives and methodologies. Across articles, the importance of the disease which included disease burden, costs of disease, and political prioritization, coupled with economic factors related to vaccine price, affordability, and financing were the most common criteria considered for new vaccine introduction. Our review identified two additional criteria in the decision-making process for vaccine introduction that was not included in the Burchett et al (2012) framework: communications and sociocultural considerations. Data from this review can support informed decision-making for vaccine introduction amongst policymakers and stakeholders in LMICs.

For more than a decade human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have been implemented in most high-income countries, and more recently also in several low- and middle-income countries. The vaccines are safe and their impact and effectiveness in preventing HPV vaccine type infection and associated diseases has been thoroughly established. Currently, the primary recommended cohorts for immunisation are adolescents, 9–15 years of age but HPV is an ubiquitous infection that is mainly (but not exclusively) sexually transmitted. Sexually active adults remain susceptible to infection and continued transmission of the virus, representing a reservoir of infection in the population. A recent meeting, conducted by the HPV Prevention and Control Board (HPV-PCB), reviewed the current status of HPV vaccination of adults, discussed limitations, challenges and benefits of HPV vaccination of adults, evaluated the effectiveness of HPV vaccination after treatment of post cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, and discussed the potential impact of adult vaccination on cervical cancer elimination strategies in light of the current and future HPV vaccine shortage. HPV-PCB is an independent multidisciplinary board of international experts that disseminates relevant information on HPV to a broad array of stakeholders and provides guidance on strategic, technical and policy issues in the implementation of HPV prevention and control programs. The HPV-PCB concluded that, given the current data available on adult HPV vaccination and the ongoing vaccine supply constraints, it is too early to implement routine vaccination of adults. Many research gaps need to be filled before we have a better understanding of the efficacy and broader public health impact of HPV vaccination in adult women.