Dr. Miriam Stoppard: HPV vaccines are essential to defeating cervical cancer – Miriam Stoppard

It is important. Routine vaccination of 12- to 13-year-old girls from Scotland against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has resulted in a dramatic fall in the disease that leads to cervical cancer.

Vaccination works again!

The HPV vaccination program is so successful that even unvaccinated women are protected against HPV through "herd protection" – high vaccination rates for most other women.

HPV infection, usually in the form of bad warts, is the leading cause of cervical cancer.

HPV has many types and I remember the controversy about which vaccine should be used.

As with the influenza vaccine, it was thought that a vaccine would only protect against the types of HPV included in the vaccine.

The Scottish study proved that this was perfectly wrong.

The vaccine protects against many types, including some not in the vaccine – known as "cross protection".

These results show a high efficacy of the vaccine in young women against severe cervical disease, regardless of the type of HPV.

The results are spectacular, with a considerable reduction in precancerous cervical disease over time.

The authors estimate that the vaccine is 86% effective against the most severe forms of early cervical cancer in fully vaccinated women between the ages of 12 and 13, compared with unvaccinated girls.

Researchers also reported a decrease in the number of precancerous diseases, even in unvaccinated women, suggesting that HPV containment in Scotland has created substantial herd protection.

Although HPV types 16 and 18 are predominant in cervical disease in young women, an over 85% reduction in diseases caused by all types of HPV clearly indicates that cross-protection translates directly into the prevention of cervical disease. disease.

Scotland has shown that a good registration and monitoring system is effective in achieving a high vaccination rate and for the success of the vaccination program.

There is no doubt that all countries must decide how best to implement vaccination, screening and treatment programs that meet the World Health Organization's demand for the elimination of cervical cancer. uterine as a public health problem.

Changes in the cervix to cancer may be detected by regular cervical screening.

However, we know that many young women miss these essential checks and that, as a result, cases of cervical cancer will begin to increase.

Because HPV infection triggers precancerous changes in the cervix, it is not difficult to encourage HPV vaccination.

Globally, millions of doses of HPV vaccine have been administered to women – and to men – and no serious adverse events have been observed.

For the sake of heaven, vaccinate your children!