Eliminating cervical cancer in Canada
What can Canada do to eliminate cervical cancer?
Canada needs to act now to eliminate cervical cancer
Canada can eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and shifting from Pap testing to HPV testing for cervical screening.
Significant efforts toward implementing the Action Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Canada, 2020–2030 (Action Plan) are underway across the country, and continued action is needed to achieve the Action Plan’s priorities and targets. With intensified efforts to reach the goals of 90 per cent of 17-year-olds vaccinated with at least one dose of the HPV vaccine and 90 per cent of eligible people screened with an HPV test, Canada could reach elimination as early as 2031.
Projected age-standardized incidence rate (per 100,000 females) for cervical cancer by level of HPV vaccination uptake* and level and type of cervical screening, 2015-2050
Legend
● Action plan for the elimination of cervical cancer goal: 90% vaccination, 90% HPV screening
● Status quo vaccination (70%), switch to HPV screening (70%)
● Status quo vaccination (70%) and screening (70% Pap)
● Elimination threshold ● Elimination target year
Modelling projections were run in 2025 using the World Health Organization’s World Standard Population.
* HPV vaccination uptake rates are based on full vaccination against HPV, based on NACI vaccination guidelines.
Data tables and footnotes.
Recommended strategies to increase momentum toward eliminating this cancer for everyone in Canada:
- Foster trusting and respectful, reciprocal relationships with equity-denied groups to build community capacity and co-design innovative and culturally safe solutions that will increase access to HPV vaccination, screening and follow-up. For example, offering routine vaccine catch-up in school and community settings and introducing HPV self-screening, where a person can collect the sample themselves in their preferred setting, can greatly improve access for equity-denied groups.
- Enhance the collection and reporting of culturally safe data to identify and better understand inequities, guide implementation efforts and show progress toward elimination.
- Share information, resources and capacity that supports the spread of effective policies, best practices and interventions that can be adapted to the needs of communities.