HPV Vaccine Has Prevented Thousands of Cancer Cases, New Data Shows -

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a dramatic decline in cervical cancer cases since the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

The study found that from 2008 to 2022, rates of precancerous cervical lesions decreased by about 80 percent in women ages 20 to 24 who were screened for cervical cancer. This is the age group most likely to have received the HPV vaccine, which was first recommended in the United States in 2006 for preteen girls and boys, according to the authors.

The vaccine has been called “dangerous” by Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The HPV vaccine has “100 percent” translated into fewer cases of cervical cancer, says Elena Ratner, MD, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences and the co-chief of gynecologic oncology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

“I’ve been practicing medicine for about 25 years, and I can tell you, even in that short period of time, the paradigm of cervical cancer has changed dramatically — we see way less of it. We’re now hitting the benefit of those first generations of adolescents getting vaccinated,” says Dr. Ratner, who wasn’t involved in the study.

Reduction in Cervical Cancer Seen in Vaccinated Preteens and ‘Catch-Up’ Vaccinations

To analyze how the incidence of cervical cancer has changed since the introduction of the HPV vaccine, investigators tracked cervical precancers (CIN2+ and CIN3+) in five U.S. areas from 2008 to 2022 through a program called HPV-IMPACT.

Researchers gathered census data on all women between ages 20 and 64 living in these areas, and monitored the labs where tissue samples are sent to identify confirmed cases of cervical precancers.

To understand how many women were screened for these conditions, they estimated how many women had Pap tests or HPV tests each year, factoring in different types of insurance such as private, public, and uninsured.

While the largest drop happened in younger women, the HPV vaccine also positively affected older women.

Among women ages 25 to 29 years, there was a 37 percent reduction in higher-grade precancers (CIN3+) — also notable because rates of precancer were on the rise in this group until 2015. This age group includes women who were vaccinated as part of catch-up vaccination programs (recommended for young adults who didn’t get the vaccine as kids), the authors said.

The findings in younger and older women support the current guidelines on HPV vaccination, the authors concluded.

Is the HPV Vaccine Safe?

Rigorous scientific research suggests that not only is the HPV vaccine effective, but it is very safe as well. The ingredients in the HPV vaccine occur naturally in the environment, the human body, and foods.

The HPV vaccine does contain aluminum (as do the hepatitis B and Tdap vaccines); this metal improves the immune response to the vaccine. People are exposed to aluminum every day through food, cooking utensils, water, and even breast milk, and vaccines with an aluminum component have been administered to billions of people without adverse effects. Studies with millions of participants from around the world have demonstrated the safety of the HPV vaccine.

“In my experience, and both in my clinical experience and all the evidence-based medicine that I’m aware of, I have not seen any toxicity to the vaccine. I have not seen any long-term side effects or morbidity from the vaccine,” says Ratner.

Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects against genital warts, most cases of cervical cancer, and other cancers caused by HPV, including of the vagina and vulva. Men can also get cancer of the throat, tonsils, back of tongue, penis, and anus from HPV.

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Here are some of the groups that may benefit from vaccination against HPV.

Boys and Girls Ages 9 to 12

The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for both boys and girls starting at ages 11 or 12, though it can be given as early as age 9. The vaccine is most effective when given before any exposure to HPV, which typically happens before individuals begin sexual activity.

Men

The vaccine has significant benefits for men to prevent oropharyngeal cancer, which is cancer of the throat, tonsils, and back of tongue. That’s especially important because there is no screening for that type of cancer.

It’s almost 100 percent effective in preventing external genital warts.

Certain Young Adults

The vaccine is recommended for young adults who did not receive the vaccine during childhood.

Teens and young adults up through age 26 who haven’t yet received the HPV vaccine or haven’t finished the series should get it. This includes people who may have already been sexually active or have had some exposure to HPV. The vaccine can still provide protection against strains of the virus they haven’t encountered.

People ages 27 to 45 should discuss their risks with their healthcare team to decide if they should get the HPV vaccine.

When Should I Get an HPV Vaccine — and Who Should Avoid Them?

“The best time or the best way for the vaccine to be most efficient is when somebody gets a vaccine before they get exposed to the HPV virus,” says Ratner.

But the vaccine is beneficial even after you’ve been exposed, she explains.

“The vaccine can still help you fight the HPV strains that you don’t yet have. The HPV vaccine is effective against nine different HPV strains,” she says.

That means it could be appropriate for some people in their early forties, she says. “For example, someone gets divorced and now has new partners. It’s recommended for them to get their HPV vaccine because now they’re going to be exposed to new HPV strains,” says Ratner.

There are some people who shouldn’t get the vaccine — for example, pregnant women or people who are allergic to an ingredient in the vaccine. Talk with your doctor to find out if you are eligible.

Bottom Line: The HPV Vaccine Has Been a Game Changer in Preventing Cervical Cancer

“As an oncologist, someone who takes care of women with cervical cancer and who has been taking care of women with cervical cancer for decades, I can tell you that this vaccine changed the face of cervical cancer. This vaccine has saved women from getting cancer and then dying from this cancer,” says Ratner.

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