Publish date: 11 November 2021
Promising new findings showing how a vaccination rollout has dramatically reduced the number of women getting cervical cancer have been welcomed by the Cancer Alliance.
The vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer has cut the rates of the disease in those who have had the jabs by almost 90%, a study has found.
Mr John Kirwan, consultant gynaeoncologist at Liverpool Women's Hospital and Chair of CMCA’s Gynaecology CQG, said the results of the research into the human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme was “incredible” and he encouraged all eligible people to have it.
The NHS scheme has stopped a large number of women from developing the disease – and the findings may impact on the cervical screening programme in the future.
The vaccination programme was launched in England 13 years ago and a Cancer Research UK-funded study found that cervical cancer rates in women who had the vaccine at age 12 or 13 were 87% lower than in an unvaccinated population.
The research shows that by June 2019, there were around 450 fewer cases of cervical cancer and 17,200 fewer cases of cervical carcinomas – pre-cancerous growths – than expected in those vaccinated against HPV in England.
The study found a 97% drop in pre-cancerous changes to cells in women vaccinated between the ages of 12 and 13, 75% in women vaccinated between the ages of 14 and 16, and 39% in women vaccinated between the ages of 16 and 18. Without vaccination, experts believe the toll for pre-cancerous changes could have affected almost 36,000 women.
The researchers say the results show the first direct, global evidence of prevention of cervical cancer using a vaccine for HPV, which is the virus that causes it. Cancer Research UK said the findings were better than expected and that cervical cancer could become a rare disease thanks to vaccines combined with screening.
Experts believe the screening programme may be eventually scaled back due to the success of the vaccine.
Mr Kirwan said: “These findings are incredible and very exciting. They show for the first time the full impact of the vaccination programme and how it has prevented many women from developing cervical cancer.
“The rollout of the vaccination has been a real boost in reducing the prevalence of cervical cancer and I would encourage everyone who is able to receive this vaccine to have it. I would also urge all parents to support the vaccination programme and arrange for their child to have the vaccine at the appropriate time.”
For more information about this, see this BBC News report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59148620