HPV vaccination is a highly effective way of reducing cervical disease, finds research led Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, Peter Sasieni

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and many countries, including the UK, now offer routine vaccination to girls and boys at age 12-13 to protect them against strains that can cause cancer in later life.

The new study, published today by the British Medical Journal (BMJ)and led by Professor Peter Sasieni from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, analysed cancer data from NHS England for vaccinated and unvaccinated women aged 20-64. Researchers concluded that the vaccine reduced cervical cancer incidence rates by nearly 90% and pre-cancerous conditions by around 95% in women. The study also found that the vaccine was much more effective when taken up by people in year 8 (aged 12-13) than later years.

Between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2020 there were 29,968 diagnoses of cervical cancer and 335,228 of grade 3 precancerous cervical lesions (CIN3) in women aged 20-64 years. In the group of women offered vaccination at age 12-13, rates of cervical cancer and CIN3 in the additional year of follow-up were, respectively, 84% and 94% lower than in the older unvaccinated group. Overall, the researchers estimate that by mid-2020, HPV vaccination had prevented 687 cancers and 23,192 CIN3s.

While the incidence of cervical cancer was higher in areas of the most deprivation, the study showed that the HPV vaccination had prevented the greatest numbers of cervical cancer cases in women in the most deprived areas of England.

Professor Peter Sasieni, lead author from Queen Mary University of London, said:"Our research highlights the power of HPV vaccination to benefit people across all social groups. Historically, cervical cancer has had greater health inequalities than almost any other cancer and there was concern that HPV vaccination may not reach those at greatest risk. Instead, this study captures the huge success of the school-based vaccination programme in helping to close these gaps and reach people from even the most deprived communities. In the UK, the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem in our lifetime is possible with continued action to improve access to vaccination and screening for all."

Cancer Research UK's senior health information manager, Sophia Lowes, said: "Every year, around 3,300 people receive a cervical cancer diagnosis in the UK. This research shows us that HPV vaccination works, and increased coverage can help to bring about a future virtually free from this disease. But we can't lose momentum. We're calling for targeted action to ensure that as many young people as possible get the lifesaving HPV vaccine. Better reporting on uptake by deprivation and ethnicity, along with more research, will help us understand how to reach those most at risk.

"We encourage people to take up the HPV vaccine if they are eligible. If you are concerned that you or your child has missed out on the HPV vaccine, you can contact your child's school nurse, school immunisation service or GP surgery to find out more."