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The HPV immunisation programme began in 2008 in Scotland
A new study has found that no cases of cervical cancer have been detected in young women who have been fully-vaccinated as part of the HPV immunisation programme.
The Public Health Scotland (PHS) research said the HPV (human papillomavirus virus) vaccine was “highly effective” in preventing the development of the cancer.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer – the fourth most common cause of cancer in women worldwide.
The vaccination programme started in 2008 with girls offered the vaccine in their first year at secondary school, aged 12 or 13.
The vaccine, which is now offered to boys, also helps to protect them from other HPV-related cancers later in life, such as head, neck and anogenital cancers as well as genital warts.
What is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?
- HPV is the name given to a common group of viruses; there are more than 100 types of HPV
- Many women will be with infected with HPV over the course of their lifetime without any ill-effect
- In the vast majority of cases, there will be no symptoms and the infection will clear on its own, but in some cases persistent infection can lead to cervical disease
- Some types of HPV are high risk because they are linked to the development of some cancers
- Nearly all cervical cancers (99.7%) are caused by infection from a high risk HPV
- Many types of HPV affect the mouth, throat or genital area. They’re easy to catch – you can get HPV from sexual contact.
‘It is possible to make cervical cancer a rare disease’
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 25 to 35 years of age in Scotland.
In total, about 300 women in Scotland are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year.
Screening is offered to all women aged 25 to 64.
Public Health Scotland collaborated with the Universities of Strathclyde and Edinburgh on its research and included every woman in Scotland who is eligible for the cervical cancer screening programme in the figures.
The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr Kirsty Roy, consultant in health protection at PHS, said: “It shows how effective the HPV vaccine is as there have been no cervical cancer cases to-date in fully vaccinated women who were given their first dose at age 12-13 years.
“Vaccination against HPV is shown to be effective in preventing cervical cancer, and along with regular screening for early detection and treatment, it is possible to make cervical cancer a rare disease.”
This year’s HPV vaccine programme is already under way across schools.
