HPV Almost Eliminated From Young Women in England
The latest statistics from Public Health England (PHE) had some great news to report – HPV16 and 18, two of the most high-risk cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus, have been almost eliminated from young women in England IFLScience.com reports.
This is all thanks to a mass vaccination program that was introduced in schools in 2008 when about 15% of young women in England were infected with these types of HPV. As of 2018, within a sample group of 584 women age 16-18, zero cases of HPV16 or 18 were reported.
“This is clear evidence of the success of our immunization program, which continues to achieve high coverage,” Dr. Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at PHE, said in a statement. “With millions of young women protected by HPV vaccination, we expect to see big reductions in cervical cancer in years to come and the introduction of the boys’ program will accelerate this progress.”
While the current vaccine in England protects against HPV16, 18, 6, and 11 which present the clearest link to cervical cancer, three other cancer-causing types of HPV, HPV31, 33, and 45, have also declined, “suggesting the vaccine provides some cross-protection.” This vaccination program was extended to boys in 2019.
