Quote this article as:
Y Chami Khazraji et al. (August 2023). Introduction of HPV vaccination in the Kingdom of Morocco. www.HPVWorld.com, 241

 Lire cet article en français

In Morocco, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), estimates of cervical cancer (CC) incidence and mortality for the year 2020 indicate that CC is the second most common women’s cancer with about 2,165 new cases and represents their second leading cause of death with 1,190 deaths each year¹. The latest edition of the 2013 – 2017 report on cancer incidence in Morocco from the Cancer Registry of the Grand-Casablanca Region reports a standardized incidence rate compared to the Moroccan population of 9.2 per 100,000 women, making CC the third female cancer after breast and thyroid cancers and the second most common gynecological cancer after breast cancer².

Aware of the scale of the CC problem, Morocco joined the global strategy to eliminate CC as a public health problem and committed to introducing HPV vaccination into the national immunization program in 2022. This strategy builds on the system's capacity to integrate a new vaccine and draws on the successful experiences of several countries that have been able to identify factors that contribute to the achievement of good HPV vaccination performance³.

According to the reference framework of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of CC as a public health problem, and the National Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control (PNPCC 2020-2029)⁴, the goal is to ensure by 2030 the HPV vaccination of at least 90% of 11 year-old girls at the national level by the administration of two doses of HPV vaccine⁶ (tables 1 and 2).

This goal will be achieved gradually, taking into account the national context and the evolution of the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 in the different regions of the Kingdom³ (Table 2).

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has secured the necessary budget for the vaccine acquisition as well as the auxiliary budgets for the vaccination deploy from October 2022 and for the activity’s sustainability over time⁵.

Thus, HPV vaccination in Morocco will initially be implemented first at primary healthcare facilities and then extended to schools after the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has been controlled. Vaccinations will be carried out in campaign mode, over a period of 3 weeks with the administration of two doses of vaccine spaced 6 months. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine will be used, which was acquired through UNICEF as for other antigens.

To achieve the expected objectives, the national strategy for the HPV vaccine introduction is based on 5 strategic axes (Figure 1):

• Supply of HPV vaccine in strict compliance with the cold chain.
• Establishment of a quality assurance program of vaccination services.
• Governance through the establishment of coordination bodies for the implementation of the vaccine introduction plan.
• Monitoring, evaluation and promotion of research actions on the HPV vaccine and the vaccination plan implementation.
• Communication and social mobilization.

DISCLOSURE
YCK is a consultant for Merck Sharp & Dohme. MB and LA have no conflict of interests to disclose.


HPW EDITORIAL NOTE
In October 2022, the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection introduced the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil®) in the National Immunization Program in two doses separated by 6 months for all girls aged 11.



References

1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. Epub 2021 Feb 4. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660

2. Benider A, Bendahhou K. Cancer Incidence Report 2013-2017 – Grand Casablanca Region Cancer Registry (RCGC). Morocco 2022. Available from: https://contrelecancer.ma/site_media/uploaded_files/Registre_des_Cancers_de_la_Region_du_Grand_Casablanca_2013-2017.pdf

3. National Plan for the HPV Vaccination Introduction in the National Immunization Program. Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Morocco 2022.

4. National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan 2020-2029 (PNPCC 2020-2029). Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Lalla Salma Foundation. Morocco 2020. Available from: https://www.contrelecancer.ma/site_media/uploaded_files/PNPCC_2020_2029.pdf

5. Health Plan 2025. Ministry of Health. Morocco 2018.

6. High Commission for Planning, Morocco's Social Indicators, 2018 Edition.



RELATED ARTICLES:

E. Belglaiaa, G. Albero, L. Bruni (June 2023). Morocco. Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet.


LIRE CET ARTICLE EN FRANÇAIS :

Chami Khazraji et al. (août 2023). Introduction de la vaccination anti HPV au Royaume du Maroc.