Program Overview

The GARDASIL Access Program is making available at least three million doses of GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] to qualifying organizations and institutions in developing countries, where more than 85% of the world's cervical cancer cases occur.

The GARDASIL Access Program enables organizations and institutions in eligible lowest income countries to gain operational experience designing and implementing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination projects, with the goal of supporting the development of successful child and adolescent immunization models. The program accommodates proposals from applicants to design and implement smaller scale HPV vaccination projects, rather than nationwide programs. Endorsement by the Ministry of Health is a critical application prerequisite.

The operational experiences and lessons learned by participants in the program will be widely disseminated in an effort to contribute to the public knowledge base on HPV vaccine access and child/adolescent immunization models in lowest income countries.

The GARDASIL Access Program encourages applicants to follow World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and guidelines for HPV vaccination. Prospective applicants should consult the April 2009 WHO position paper for more information here.

The GARDASIL Access Program is made possible by a pledge from Merck & Co., Inc. [Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, U.S.A.]  and is managed by Axios Healthcare Development (AHD), a US non-profit organization, with strategic guidance provided by the independent GARDASIL Access Program Advisory Board comprised of international public health experts. AHD administers the program, reviews and approves applications based on Advisory Board recommendations and coordinates delivery of donated vaccine to program participants with technical assistance from Axios International, a public health consultancy specializing in developing and emerging countries.