ESMO Statement for the 77th World Health Assembly

Agenda item 11.4: Immunization Agenda 2030

Honorable Chair, Esteemed Delegates,

The European Society for Medical Oncology representing over 35,000 cancer professionals from 172 countries, welcomes the Director-General’s report on Immunization Agenda 2030.

Given that prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for cancer control, ESMO urges the WHO member states to:

• Include gender-neutral, routine vaccination against human papillomaviruses
(HPV) in their national programmes.
• Maximise the uptake of the vaccines against the Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
and raise awareness among high risk and disadvantaged groups on the
benefits of the vaccines.
• Improve vaccination coverage against both HPV and HBV viruses by
making them mandatory and free of charge for all as part of national
vaccination programmes.

Thank you.