A groundbreaking study from Scotland has revealed that women fully vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) between the ages of 12 and 13 have reported zero cases of cervical cancer.
This first-of-its-kind long-term study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, tracked nearly 450,000 women born between 1988 and 1996, showing complete protection against cervical cancer in those vaccinated before the age of 14.
“The study is super exciting. It shows that the vaccine is extremely effective,” said Kathleen Schmeler, a professor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research.
The results underline the importance of early vaccination, ideally before individuals become sexually active. Schmeler emphasized, “We should not wait to vaccinate folks and really do it, for the guidelines, prior to becoming sexually active.”
Scotland’s school-based HPV vaccination program, introduced in 2008, has seen a 90% uptake. In contrast, only about 60% of U.S. adolescents are vaccinated, as the program is not administered through schools.
The study’s findings were particularly significant among women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, where cancer rates are typically higher. Tim Palmer, lead author of the study and an HPV immunization consultant at Public Health Scotland, expressed surprise, stating, “I was very surprised that there were no cases [of cancer] in the group who received vaccines before 14.”
Experts stress, however, that continued screening remains vital for detecting cancers caused by HPV strains not covered by earlier vaccines.
