Vaccination Programme Results 'Encouraging'

An HPV vaccine programme leads to a reduction in cervical abnormalities among women in Scotland.

Cervical cancer rates could be on course to fall.

Research suggests that the human papilloma jab is leading to a reduction in cervical abnormalities.

Since its introduction in 2008, researchers from Health Protection Scotland and the University of Strathclyde have monitored the impact of the HPV vaccine among women attending for cervical screening at age 20. By linking individual vaccination, screening and HPV testing records, they have been able to determine the early impact of the immunisation programme on pre-cancerous cells. 

Dr Kevin Pollock, Senior Epidemiologist at HPS explained:

"These findings are very exciting and demonstrate that high uptake of the HPV vaccine is associated with a significant reduction of low and high grade cervical abnormalities in young women in Scotland."

Dr Kim Kavanagh, Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde added:

"To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to show a reduction of pre-cancerous cells associated with the HPV vaccine at the population level. These data are very encouraging for countries that have achieved high HPV vaccine uptake."

HPS says while these data are extremely encouraging, regular attendance at cervical screening remains important since the vaccine does not afford protection against all types of HPV, which can cause cervical cancer.