HPV-FASTER Explained

What is HPV FASTER?

  • HPV FASTER is a public health strategy proposing a combined approach to HPV vaccination and HPV screening for women aged 25–45 years.

  • The aim is to prevent cervical cancer more quickly by vaccinating and screening a wider age group in parallel.

Main Goal

  • To prevent cervical cancer faster by vaccinating and screening women who may have already been exposed to HPV but do not yet show disease.

How It Works Technically

  • Dual Intervention Strategy:

  • - HPV Vaccination: Administered to women up to 45 years, even if previously exposed. Nonavalent vaccines are used for broader coverage.

  • - HPV-Based Screening: Uses HPV DNA testing, which is more sensitive than Pap tests, to detect and treat existing infections or precancerous lesions.

  • Age Targeting (25–45 years): Focuses on a group often missed by adolescent vaccination programs and under-screened in many regions.

Benefits of the HPV FASTER Strategy

  • Faster reduction in cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

  • Higher cost-effectiveness through combined interventions.

  • Reduced long-term screening frequency.

  • Increased population immunity, even among partially exposed women.

HPV-Faster-Implement Project: Implementation Aspects

  • Research & Evidence Base: Built on clinical trials and modeling demonstrating benefits of adult vaccination plus screening.

  • Integration into Health Systems: Combines vaccine and screening delivery in primary care or gynecology, with digital registry support.

  • Equity Focus: Aimed at regions with low vaccine uptake and inconsistent screening, such as parts of Eastern Europe.

Global & EU Alignment

  • Supports WHO’s 90-70-90 targets and the EU Beating Cancer Plan.

  • Aligned with WHO’s cervical cancer elimination goals.