New Study Shows HPV Vaccine Brought Cervical Cancer Deaths to Almost Zero in Young Women

This is one of those rare stories in health where the numbers genuinely stop you. A landmark study out of the United Kingdom, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, has found that young women who received the HPV vaccine in their early teen years now have a practically zero chance of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30.

Among women aged 20 to 24 who were vaccinated at around 88 to 90 percent coverage when they were 12 to 13 years old, no deaths from cervical cancer occurred between 2020 and 2024. Without the vaccine, researchers estimated that 23 deaths would have been likely in that group. For vaccinated women aged 30 to 34, the relative risk of dying from cervical cancer is 63 percent lower than for those who were not vaccinated. The researchers estimate the programme has saved around 200 lives in England to date.

"It's incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer," said Peter Sasieni, a biostatistician and joint lead of the Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis at Queen Mary University of London.

What This Means for Canadians

Canada offers the HPV vaccine free of charge to eligible young people through school-based immunization programs, typically around Grade 8. Boys became eligible for the publicly funded vaccine beginning in September 2019. For those who did not receive the vaccine through school, it is available out of pocket, and the three-dose cycle costs roughly $215 per dose.

If not immunized, it is estimated that 75 per cent of sexually active Canadians will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives, according to government data. Most cases clear on their own, but persistent infection with certain HPV strains can cause cervical cancer as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. HPV can also cause throat cancer.

Cervical cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in women globally. In Canada, regular cervical screening through HPV tests and Pap smears remains important alongside vaccination, as the vaccine does not protect against every strain of HPV.

Declining Vaccination Rates

Despite the results, the researchers noted that vaccination rates have dropped in parts of the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar concern has been raised in Canada, where disruptions to school-based programs during the pandemic created gaps in coverage for some age cohorts.

The World Health Organization's strategy for eliminating cervical cancer calls for vaccinating 90 per cent of girls globally against HPV by age 15. In England, the target coverage rate is close to being met in some age groups, but researchers are cautious about complacency.

If you are unsure whether you or your child received the HPV vaccine, your family doctor or public health unit can check your immunization record and let you know whether catch-up doses are available. Book a visit at medimap.ca.