Dr Raikhan Bolatbekova speaks to ecancer about Kazakhstan's efforts to combat HPV-related diseases through a nationwide vaccination programme.

The programme, relaunched in 2024 after a nine-year hiatus, aims to vaccinate girls aged 11 to 13 years.

Dr Bolatbekova highlights the challenges faced, including low initial vaccination coverage and significant barriers such as parental concerns about vaccine safety, particularly the link to infertility, and reluctance towards vaccinating younger girls.

Despite these challenges, the programme has made strides, reaching 48% coverage for the first dose and 31% for the second.

Dr Bolatbekova also discusses ongoing efforts to raise awareness through collaboration with general practitioners, paediatricians, journalists, and social media influencers to combat misinformation and promote the importance of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention.

As of 2025, HPV vaccines will be available commercially, with coverage extending to additional age groups.