HPV Vaccination in Early Teens Virtually Eliminates Cervical Cancer Deaths Before Age 30, UK Study Finds
Women who received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in their early teens have virtually no chance of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30, according to a groundbreaking new study from the United Kingdom.
Research conducted by experts at Queen Mary University of London reveals that cervical cancer deaths have fallen sharply since the vaccine was introduced to schoolgirls aged 12 to 13 in 2008. So far, approximately 200 lives have been saved in England as a direct result of the vaccination program.
Zero Deaths Among Vaccinated Young Women
The study found that there were no deaths among women aged 20 to 24 between 2020 and 2024, a group for which the vaccination rate at ages 12 to 13 was around 88 to 90 percent. Without vaccination, researchers estimated that 23 deaths would have been likely in that age group during the same period.
Among women aged 30 to 34, the relative risk of dying from cervical cancer was 63 percent lower in vaccinated women compared to those who were not vaccinated.
A Single Vaccination Can Almost Eliminate a Cancer
“It’s incredible to think that a single vaccination can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer,” said Peter Sasieni, a biostatistician and joint director of the Center for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis at Queen Mary University of London, in an interview with the BBC.
According to Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, approximately 3,300 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK. However, the vaccine, combined with regular screening, has the potential to significantly reduce this number. The organization noted that vaccination rates have fallen since the pandemic, raising concerns about future protection.
HPV: A Widespread Virus With Serious Consequences
HPV is a virus spread through close skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual activity. While nine out of 10 HPV cases resolve on their own, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), persistent infections can lead to cervical cancer and other serious health conditions.
The vaccine also protects against other types of cancer, including cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. HPV can also cause cancer of the throat. To ensure protection before young people become sexually active, the vaccine is typically given to girls and boys around 8th grade, with catch-up vaccinations offered in grades 9 and 10.
UK and Global Goals for Eliminating Cervical Cancer
The World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer sets ambitious targets: all countries should vaccinate 90 percent of girls against HPV by age 15, screen 70 percent of women by age 35 and again at age 45, and treat 90 percent of women with cervical cancer by 2030.
“In the UK, eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem is possible in our lifetime if we continue to take action to improve access to vaccinations and screening for all,” Sasieni said in a statement to Cancer Research UK.
Since September 2019, the vaccine has also been available to boys aged 12 to 13 in the UK. Anyone who has missed their vaccination can apply for it from the National Health Service (NHS) up to the age of 25.
Cervical Cancer Remains a Global Challenge
Even with successful vaccination programs for younger people, cervical cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer and cancer deaths among women worldwide. In 2022, there were approximately 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths globally, according to the Canadian government.
In Canada, the HPV vaccine is free for eligible young people through school-based programs for students in their early teens and can be purchased out of pocket for those who did not receive it in school. The three-dose vaccination cycle costs about $215 per vaccine. It is estimated that 75 percent of sexually active Canadians will develop an HPV infection at some point in their lives if they are not vaccinated.
