High HPV Rates in the Caribbean Confronted With Vaccines in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently announced it has partnered with the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to promote the rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for school-aged children.

On February 11, 2026, PAHO stated that HPV vaccination is a crucial component of cervical cancer prevention, as persistent infections with high-risk HPV types account for the majority of cervical cancer cases throughout the Caribbean Islands.

This collaboration is particularly important in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where cervical cancer poses a significant public health challenge.

Recent data revealed that 17 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2024, marking an 88.9% increase from 2023. An additional 17 new cases were recorded in the first nine months of 2025.

From 2020 to 2024, a total of 44 women succumbed to this vaccine-preventable disease.

In 2023, cervical cancer accounted for 12.7% of all cancers among women in Saint Vincent.

The situation is similarly alarming across the Caribbean region, including Cuba and Puerto Rico, which have one of the highest rates of cervical HPV infection globally, at approximately 16% among women, ranking second only to sub-Saharan Africa.

Every year, more than 78,000 women in the Americas are diagnosed with cervical cancer, leading to over 40,000 deaths, 83% of which occur in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, welcomed the strong community response to this initiative. "We congratulate the Ministry of Health for advancing the elimination strategy by actively engaging communities," she stated.

"This partnership builds on recent milestones in the country, including the introduction of HPV DNA testing for screening (launched in September 2025) and expanded access to diagnostic and treatment services."

These actions, from vaccination to screening and treatment, represent a holistic approach to eliminating cervical cancer, in line with PAHO and WHO regional and global goals for 2026.