HPV jabs given routinely to schoolgirls since 2008 have led to a dramatic reduction in cervical disease later in life, new research shows – fuelling fresh hopes that cervical cancer could be eradicated in 20-30 years time.
HPV is a sexually-transmitted infection and some types are linked to cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers in UK women under 35.
A new study of more than 135,000 screening records in Scotland found women who had the jab showed “significant reductions” in abnormal cells and cervical lesions (linked to cervical cancer) compared to unvaccinated women.
Interestingly, unvaccinated women also showed a reduction in disease, suggesting that interruption of HPV transmission in Scotland has created “herd protection”.
The study, published by the BMJ, concludes: “Routine vaccination of girls aged 12-13 years with the bivalent HPV vaccine in Scotland has led to a dramatic reduction in preinvasive cervical disease.
“The bivalent vaccine is confirmed as being highly effective vaccine and should greatly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.”
Dr Kevin Pollock, senior research fellow at Glasgow Caledonian University and study co-author, said the vaccine “has exceeded expectation” and added: “It is associated with near elimination of both low and high grade cervical disease.
“The figures are impressive and show a reduction of up to 90% of cervical disease abnormalities – pre-cancerous cells.”
Dr Pollock added that cervical cancer cases in women aged 20-24 have reduced by 69% since 2012 and told Sky News: “I think what we’re looking at is, probably within 20 to 30 years, the possible elimination of cervical cancer - and that’s a great news story.”
Meanwhile, Australia could become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer. Seven in every 100,000 Australian women develop cervical cancer, however researchers estimate this will decrease to fewer than six new cases per 100,000 women by 2020, and to fewer than four new cases by 2028. This is referred to as a “potential elimination threshold”.
In 2007, Australia became one of the first countries to introduce a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme and it has since achieved high vaccination coverage across both sexes.
In comparison, the UK kickstarted its vaccination programme among teenage girls in 2008 but only recently announced it would be extending this protection to boys. It is expected this will come into effect during the 2019-2020 school year.