The HPV Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Fatal Cervical Cancer Before 30 To Effectively Zero

Now, almost 20 years later, a new study has revealed the consequences of that initiative: an almost 100 percent reduction in the risk of death from cervical cancer before age 30 among those that received the vaccine. More than that, for the first time in recorded history, the UK has officially seen five consecutive years in which zero – that’s 0, nil, none, not any – women aged 20 to 24 died from cervical cancer. Historically, there'd be about 23 in the same time period.

“This is an incredible milestone and major progress in our mission to beat cancer,” said Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, the organization that funded the study. “We know the HPV vaccine is extremely effective at stopping cervical cancer before it starts and for the first time, these findings show it is saving lives.”

For those who never receive the vaccine, HPV is a very common infection – indeed, older studies have generally found that most women and trans men will get it at some point in their lives, with around one in eight worldwide being positive for HPV at any one time (this information is very limited for men and trans women, since it’s usually only undertaken in cervical screening programs. Non-binies, we trust you to know your own anatomy here). 

Normally, though, your immune system can clear the infection out pretty swiftly – in nine out of 10 cases, the virus is gone completely within two years, and you probably wouldn’t know you even had it.

For the unlucky 10 percent, however, the infection can stick around for longer. These more high-risk types of HPV are able to damage DNA, causing cells to divide and grow uncontrollably. The end result: cancer, most notably of the cervix, but also of the vagina, vulva, penis, and anus, as well as an increased risk in the head and neck, throat, mouth, and even skin and lung cancer.

Since nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, it’s here that researchers were hoping to see the biggest reduction in mortality. But the actual effects blow any expectations out of the water: “We estimate that since its introduction, HPV vaccination has prevented nearly 200 young women from dying from cervical cancer in England,” Peter Sasieni at Queen Mary University of London and lead author of the study told The Guardian this week.

“With close to 90% HPV vaccine uptake in women born between 1995 and 2004, we expect to see thousands of cervical cancer deaths prevented in those women over the coming years.”

It’s incredible news – but it comes with a warning. Since the pandemic, uptake of the HPV vaccine has been falling, with the most recent data showing only about three-quarters of girls in England being vaccinated by the age of 15. That’s well below the 90 percent target that the World Health Organization says is needed to eliminate cervical cancer.

With this new study showing just how effective the vaccine is, basically everyone involved is reiterating how important it is that vaccination levels remain high. 

“Alongside cervical screening, HPV vaccination is central to the NHS ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040,” confirmed Caroline Temmink, director of vaccination in the UK’s National Health Service, in a statement. “It’s a safe and effective vaccine and we urge everyone eligible to take up the offer when invited.”

“Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone,” said Mitchell. “Every parent and guardian can support this by making sure children and young people get the HPV vaccine.”

“It’s also important that women take up cervical screening when invited, even if they have had the HPV vaccine,” she added.

The study is published in The Lancet.