A new study by researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores the remarkable impact of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in reducing precancerous cervical lesions, a key indicator of cervical cancer risk. The findings, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, highlight the effectiveness of the vaccine, first approved in 2006, in preventing HPV-related health complications.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with over 200 different strains. Among these, strains 16 and 18 are classified as high-risk due to their strong association with cervical and other cancers. Each year, approximately 14 million Americans contract HPV, leading to around 10,800 cases of cervical cancer annually. While cervical cancer is treatable if detected early, it still causes an estimated 4,400 deaths per year in the US.
Since 2008, the CDC’s Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Impact Monitoring Project has tracked trends in precancerous cervical lesions to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness. The study analyzed data from women aged 20–29 who underwent cervical cancer screenings between 2008 and 2022. The results were striking: the prevalence of moderate-to-high-risk precancerous lesions among women aged 20–24 dropped by about 80 percent, while those aged 25–29 saw a 37 percent reduction. Researchers attributed the smaller decline in the older age group to the later introduction of the vaccine as part of a “catch-up” effort, which is less effective than receiving the vaccine at the recommended age.
In the US, the HPV vaccine was initially approved for girls and women in 2006, with boys and men added to the recommendation in 2011. Today, the CDC advises routine vaccination for children aged 11–12 to prevent HPV-related cancers later in life. Additionally, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 21–65 undergo a Pap smear test every three years, with women over 30 advised to get a high-risk HPV test every five years.
Despite the study’s strong correlation between vaccination and declining cervical precancers, researchers acknowledged a limitation: individual vaccination status was not recorded, preventing direct causality confirmation. However, they emphasized that no other plausible explanations exist for the sharp decline observed.
These findings emerge as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaccine advocate, begins his tenure as US health secretary. Under his leadership, the FDA recently canceled a scheduled expert meeting on next year’s flu vaccine development, raising concerns about potential shifts in national vaccination policies.
