HPV Vaccine Effectiveness
A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics found the HPV vaccine to be highly effective 17 years after its introduction, reducing cancer risk in young women.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, with low-risk types causing genital warts and high-risk types linked to various cancers.
- HPV-6 and -11 cause genital warts
- HPV-16 and -18 are linked to cancers of the cervix, anus, and oropharynx
HPV contributes to roughly 630,000 new cancer cases each year, with HPV-16 and -18 responsible for 71% of cervical cancers and 87% of anal cancers.
The study highlights the vaccine's strong protection for young women, even for those who did not complete the full series of doses.
Author summary: HPV vaccine remains highly effective after 17 years.