Cambodia launches HPV vaccination drive to shield 700,000 girls from cervical cancer
Synopsis
Cambodia is vaccinating more than 700,000 girls against HPV in a two-phase campaign backed by over USD 3 million from Gavi — a direct assault on cervical cancer, the country's second most common cancer in women. With free doses for girls aged 10 to 14 and delivery through schools and community centres, the drive is one of the most ambitious adolescent health interventions in the country's recent history.
Key Takeaways
Cambodia launched a nationwide HPV Multi-Age Cohort and catch-up vaccination campaign on 11 November 2026 .
The drive targets more than 700,000 girls aged 10 to 14 across schools, community centres, and health facilities.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer among women in Cambodia, with nearly all cases linked to high-risk HPV strains.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance , has committed more than USD 3 million to fund the initiative.
HPV vaccination is estimated to avert 13 deaths per 1,000 children vaccinated , according to the joint press release.
The two-phase rollout runs from November to December 2026 , building on Cambodia's HPV integration into its national immunisation programme since 2023 .
Cambodia has launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Multi-Age Cohort and catch-up vaccination campaign aimed at expanding cervical cancer protection for adolescent girls, according to a joint press release issued on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. The two-phase drive, running from November to December 2026, targets more than 700,000 girls across schools, community centres, and local health facilities.
Why Cambodia Urgently Needs This Campaign
Cervical cancer ranks as the second leading cancer among women of all ages in Cambodia — a sobering statistic given that nearly all cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV. Vaccination is widely regarded by health authorities as one of the most effective preventive interventions available. The campaign builds on Cambodia's integration of the HPV vaccine into its National Immunisation Programme in 2023, extending protection to girls who missed earlier inoculation opportunities.
Who Is Covered and How
The campaign provides free HPV vaccines to all girls aged 13 to 14, while offering catch-up doses for girls aged 10 to 12 who may have missed routine vaccinations between 2023 and 2025. Routine vaccinations for nine-year-old girls will continue in parallel. Delivery will be coordinated through schools, community centres, and local health facilities to maximise geographic and demographic reach.
What Officials Said at the Launch
At the campaign launch on Tuesday, Cambodian Minister of Health Chheang Ra reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting future generations. 'Every girl deserves protection from cervical cancer,' he said. 'By expanding HPV vaccination opportunities across the country, we are ensuring that girls who missed previous opportunities can still benefit from this safe, effective, and life-saving vaccine.'
Marianna Trias, the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Cambodia, underscored the broader public health significance. 'By expanding vaccination opportunities for girls up to age 14, Cambodia is accelerating progress towards eliminating cervical cancer while safeguarding the health and well-being of future generations,' she said.
Gavi's Funding and the Global Stakes
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed more than USD 3 million to support the initiative. Priya Gajraj, Gavi's director of core countries, said the funding reflects a wider commitment to linking adolescent girls with essential health services. 'With more than three million US dollars in funding for this campaign, which aims to protect more than 700,000 girls in schools and communities, Gavi reaffirms our commitment to support Cambodia in its efforts to build stronger links between adolescent girls and essential health services,' she said. According to the joint press release, HPV vaccination averts an estimated 13 deaths for every 1,000 children vaccinated — a figure that illustrates the tangible life-saving impact at scale.
What Comes Next
The campaign's two-phase rollout is expected to conclude by December 2026, with health authorities tracking coverage rates to identify any remaining gaps. The success of this drive is expected to inform Cambodia's long-term strategy for cervical cancer elimination, aligned with WHO's global target of vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15 by 2030.
Point of View
Not just infants. The catch-up cohort design, covering girls aged 10 to 14, is a pragmatic acknowledgement that single-age-entry vaccination programmes inevitably leave gaps. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the execution challenge: reaching girls outside the formal school system — the very ones most likely to have missed the 2023–2025 routine doses — requires community-level trust that a press release cannot guarantee. Cambodia's real test will be whether its coverage data, once published, reflects the girls hardest to reach, not just the ones easiest to vaccinate.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cambodia's HPV vaccination campaign launched in November 2026?
Cambodia launched a nationwide HPV Multi-Age Cohort and catch-up vaccination campaign on 11 November 2026, targeting more than 700,000 girls aged 10 to 14. The drive provides free vaccines through schools, community centres, and health facilities across two phases running from November to December 2026.
Why is cervical cancer a major concern in Cambodia?
Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer among women of all ages in Cambodia. Nearly all cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk HPV strains, making vaccination one of the most effective preventive tools available.
Who is eligible for the free HPV vaccine under this campaign?
Girls aged 13 to 14 are eligible for free HPV vaccines, while girls aged 10 to 12 who missed routine vaccinations between 2023 and 2025 are offered catch-up doses. Routine vaccinations for nine-year-old girls continue in parallel under Cambodia's National Immunisation Programme.
How much funding has Gavi committed to Cambodia's HPV campaign?
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed more than USD 3 million to the campaign. Gavi's director of core countries, Priya Gajraj, said the funding aims to strengthen links between adolescent girls and essential health services across schools and communities.
How effective is the HPV vaccine in preventing deaths?
According to the joint press release supporting the campaign, HPV vaccination averts an estimated 13 deaths for every 1,000 children vaccinated. The WHO also cites HPV vaccination as one of the most effective tools for preventing cervical cancer globally.
