Study finds HPV vaccination dramatically cuts cervical cancer deaths before age 30

A major new study has revealed that women who received the HPV vaccine during early adolescence have an almost zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30, highlighting the extraordinary impact of one of the most successful cancer prevention programmes in recent history.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London analysed official cancer mortality records and vaccination data involving women aged between 20 and 34 to understand how the HPV vaccine has affected survival rates.

The findings, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in The Lancet, showed significant reductions in cervical cancer deaths among women who had been offered the vaccine after its introduction in 2008.

Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally, according to the World Health Organisation. High-risk types of human papillomavirus, known as HPV, are responsible for around 99% of cervical cancer cases.

In England, approximately 3,300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

While previous studies had demonstrated that the HPV vaccine could prevent around 90% of cervical cancer cases, this new research provides the clearest evidence yet of its effect on preventing deaths from the disease.

The researchers estimated that girls vaccinated at the ages of 12 or 13 now have an almost zero chance of dying from cervical cancer before they reach 30.

Among vaccinated women aged 30 to 34, the relative risk of death from cervical cancer was found to be 63% lower compared with those who were not protected by the vaccine.

The study also revealed a historic milestone. Between 2020 and 2024, no women aged 20 to 24 died from cervical cancer in England, marking the first time this has occurred in recorded history.

Professor Peter Sasieni, lead author of the study and professor of cancer epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, estimated that the HPV vaccination programme has prevented nearly 200 young women from dying from cervical cancer in England since it was introduced.

The HPV vaccine also offers protection against other cancers, including certain cancers affecting the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, mouth and throat, as well as protecting against genital warts.

In England, the vaccine is routinely offered to boys and girls in year 8, with catch-up vaccinations available in some areas for older students.

The World Health Organisation has set a global target for countries to vaccinate 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 by 2030. It also aims to improve cervical screening and ensure treatment for those diagnosed with cervical disease.

However, experts have warned that the success of the vaccination programme could be threatened by falling uptake rates.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, HPV vaccination rates were close to the WHO target. Since then, coverage has dropped significantly, with national uptake falling to around 75% and rates in London dropping to approximately 60%.

Professor Sasieni warned that if vaccination rates are not improved, the country could see a reversal of the progress made over recent years.

He estimated that lower uptake could result in an additional 15 to 25 avoidable deaths among young women every year and eventually around 200 preventable cervical cancer deaths annually.

Cancer Research UK and other health experts have urged governments and healthcare systems to take targeted action to improve vaccination rates, particularly in communities where uptake remains low.

Healthcare leaders also stressed that vaccination alone is not enough and that cervical screening remains essential in the effort to eliminate the disease.

The NHS aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through a combination of widespread HPV vaccination, improved screening and better access to preventive services.

Officials have also introduced measures such as community pharmacy catch-up vaccination programmes and HPV self-testing kits for people who do not attend routine screening appointments.

The findings have provided powerful evidence of the vaccine’s life-saving impact, but experts say maintaining high vaccination rates will be essential to ensure future generations continue to benefit from this protection.