Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme has reached a new stage with its expansion across primary schools in Mauritius. During the first two months of 2026, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has recorded a significant increase in outreach and coverage across the different health regions.
According to the Monthly Return of HPV Vaccination for January and February 2026, vaccination activities were carried out in 32 schools in January and expanded to 76 schools in February, reflecting the intensification of the school-based immunisation campaign. Over the two-month period since January 2026, a total of 3,384 students received the HPV vaccine, including 1,606 boys and 1,778 girls. Higher participation was recorded in regions such as Rose Hill, Flacq and Rose Belle, contributing significantly to the overall vaccination coverage.
HPV is a group of viruses responsible for several diseases, such as cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, penile cancer and genital warts. Vaccination remains the simplest and most cost-effective public health intervention to protect future generations from HPV-related infections and cancers.
The national HPV vaccination programme has been initiated by the Public Health Nursing Unit since 2016 under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Initially, a two-dose bivalent vaccine was administered to 9-year-old girls in primary schools, with catch-up campaigns conducted in 2017 and 2018 for 13-year-old girls. Between 2016 and 2023, over 53,000 girls received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and more than 44,000 completed the second dose.
In line with the National Cancer Control Programme 2022–2025 and the World Health Organisation Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, a new HPV vaccination strategy was introduced in 2024. It comprised the adoption of a single-dose Gardasil-9 vaccine and the expansion of eligibility to both girls and boys aged 9 to 15 years. In 2025, a total of 7,018 children aged 9 years were vaccinated nationwide, including 3,337 boys and 3,681 girls.
The Public Health Nursing Unit continues to lead the HPV vaccination campaign in primary schools targeting all boys and girls aged 9 years (Grade 5) with a single dose of Gardasil-9. The campaign also provides catch-up vaccination for children aged 9 to 15 years who missed their dose at primary health centres. Through sustained school-based delivery and nationwide coverage, the Unit remains a key pillar in the national strategy to eliminate HPV-related cancers and protect the health of adolescents through immunisation.
