Young women who received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as school-age girls now have a near-zero risk of dying from cervical cancer, according to a new study.
Professor Peter Sasieni, the lead researcher at Queen Mary University of London, described the findings as "incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer." The study indicates that hundreds of lives have been saved since school-age girls were first offered the HPV jab in 2008. The report's authors anticipate that mortality rates from the disease will continue to decline as vaccination uptake increases and vaccinated individuals age.
Cervical cancer remains the 14th most common cancer among females in the UK, with approximately 3,300 diagnoses annually. The HPV virus, transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, is responsible for an estimated 99% of these cases. While most HPV infections resolve without issue, some can lead to abnormal cell changes and, years later, cancer.
Cancer Research UK, which funded the research, characterized the findings as an "incredible milestone." However, the organization cautioned that vaccination rates in England are currently below recommended levels. "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," stated Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.