World Immunization Week 2025

Therapeutic HPV vaccines: Modelling a second chance for women living with HIV

Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women in South Africa. Despite progress in vaccination and screening, many women – especially those living with HIV – are still at risk.

Therapeutic HPV vaccines (TxVs), which aim to clear HPV infection or reverse pre-cancerous lesions, offer new hope. But South Africa has not been included in global TxV impact models, even though HIV drastically affects treatment response and vaccine performance.

Supervised by Dr Cari van Schalkwyk, MSc student Kim Malloch’s project will:

• Prioritize modelling in women living with HIV;
• Use the MicroCOSM model, calibrated with South African data;
• Estimate the impact of TxVs on incidence and DALYs;
• Simulate delivery strategies through screening programs or mass campaigns;
• Align results with South Africa’s cervical cancer policy roadmap.

With several TxVs in Phase III trials, the timing is critical. The evidence generated will inform decisions on vaccine design, delivery models, and equity strategies – ensuring WLHIV are not left behind in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer.

Because immunization for all means helping those who missed preventive vaccination too.