A new study conducted by King's College London revealed that the rates of cervical cancer in women who received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine between the ages of 12 and 13 were 87% lower than those of unvaccinated women. (The Independent) British.
The study, published in the specialized scientific journal "The Lancet", found that women vaccinated between the ages of 14 and 16 years had a 62% lower incidence of cancer, while the rate was 34% for women vaccinated at the age of 16 to 18. year.
The researchers say these results prove the benefits of the HPV vaccine, which about 10 million women in Britain received a dose of between 2009 and 2018, according to Oxford University estimates.
Dr Kate Soldan of the UK's Health Security Agency said the study provides "the first direct global evidence for cervical cancer prevention using a vaccine for two types of human papillomavirus, the virus that can cause cervical cancer". An important step forward in the prevention of cervical cancer.
In turn, Professor Peter Sasini, who led the study, said: "It is astonishing to see the effect of the HPV vaccine, and now we can prove that it was the reason why hundreds of women were prevented from developing cancer in England."
He added, "We've known for many years that the HPV vaccine is very effective in preventing some strains of the virus, but seeing the real impact of the vaccine was really rewarding. This year we have already seen the power of vaccines in controlling the "Covid-19" pandemic, and this shows The data shows that vaccination works to prevent some types of cancer.
Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, said the results were better than expected, and that cervical cancer could become a rare disease thanks to vaccines combined with the tests.
Professor Maggie Cruikshank, from the University of Aberdeen, UK, stresses, "The magnitude of the impact of HPV vaccination revealed in this study should stimulate vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries where cervical cancer is a much greater public health problem than it is." It should be used in countries with advanced vaccination and screening systems.
It is worth noting that the HPV vaccine has so far been introduced in 100 countries of the world as part of the World Health Organization's efforts to eradicate cervical cancer.