When 12-year-olds receive a letter from the school nurse about the HPV vaccine, their responses vary. Some are anxious about the injection, while others are puzzled about the necessity of a vaccine for something unfamiliar to them.
What many do not realize is that this standard school vaccination guards against a virus that can lead to cancer later in life. Often, the letter introduces them to the groundbreaking concept that a vaccine can prevent cancer before it begins.
The proof of this protection is now evident. Our recent study examined long-term health data from girls and young women tracked for nearly 20 years, revealing that the HPV vaccine significantly lowers the risk of cervical cancer.
This is crucial because cervical cancer remains a prevalent cancer affecting women globally, even though it is largely preventable. Notably, the vaccine’s protection does not diminish over time.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most widespread viruses worldwide. Most individuals will contract it at some point, often unknowingly. In many instances, the body naturally clears the virus. However, certain HPV types can persist, gradually damaging cells, which can eventually lead to cancer.
How the HPV Vaccine Stops Cancer
HPV is responsible for nearly all cervical cancers and can also cause other cancers in both men and women, such as cancers of the throat, anus, penis, vagina, and vulva. Since these cancers typically develop slowly, often many years post-infection, early prevention of the virus is the most effective strategy.
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This is precisely the aim of the HPV vaccine.
To evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness in practical scenarios, we tracked 926,362 girls and young women in Sweden over 18 years in a nationwide study. Some had received the HPV vaccine, while others had not.
Over time, the occurrence of cervical cancer was notably lower among vaccinated individuals compared to those unvaccinated, demonstrating the vaccine’s role in preventing cervical cancer.
Our findings also indicate that the age at which the vaccine is administered is important. Girls vaccinated before turning 17 were significantly less likely to develop cervical cancer later.
Their risk was approximately four times lower than those who were not vaccinated. Individuals vaccinated at a later age still received some protection, but the benefits were less pronounced.
The explanation is simple: the vaccine prevents HPV infection but cannot eliminate an existing infection.
Vaccinating earlier, ideally before exposure to the virus, allows the immune system to develop protection in advance. This is why HPV vaccination is commonly provided to young teenagers through school programs.
Long-lasting Defense
There is often concern about whether vaccine protection wanes over time. Our study’s findings are reassuring.
We monitored participants for up to 18 years post-vaccination and found no indication of declining protection. Once established, the vaccine’s protection persisted year after year, ensuring defense against the virus during critical periods.
Many countries now advocate for HPV vaccination for both girls and boys, typically in early adolescence. Vaccinating boys not only protects them from HPV-related cancers but also helps curb virus transmission.
For many adults, the HPV vaccine was unavailable during their teenage years. Today’s younger generations have a valuable opportunity: to prevent certain cancers before they even start.
Related: Most Preventable Cancers Are Linked to Just Two Lifestyle Habits
The possibility of largely preventing cancers caused by HPV could begin with a simple vaccine administered during adolescence.
Jiayao Lei, Assistant Professor in Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet and Shiqiang Wu, PhD Candidate, Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
