By Bunmi Yekini
A groundbreaking study from the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, published in JAMA, reveals a significant decline in cervical cancer deaths among women under 25, which researchers attribute to the widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine. The findings mark the first evidence connecting HPV vaccination to reduced mortality rates from cervical cancer.
“We observed a substantial reduction in mortality – a 62% drop in cervical cancer deaths over the last decade, likely due to HPV vaccination,” lead researcher Deshmukh said. “We cannot think of any other reason that would have contributed to such a marked decline.”
The study found that cervical cancer deaths among women under 25 plummeted from an average of 50 and 60 deaths per three-year period in the 1990s to just 13 deaths in the 2019-2021 timeframe. Researchers emphasized that this striking decline highlights the vaccine’s effectiveness, especially as many women in this age group were vaccinated during adolescence.
The HPV vaccine, introduced in 2006, protects against the human papillomavirus, a virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases. Initially limited to adolescents, the vaccine’s eligibility has since expanded to include some adults up to age 45.
Despite these promising results, the team raised concerns over declining HPV vaccination rates.
Healthy People 2030 has set an 80% vaccination target for adolescents, but the CDC reports only about 60% of 13 to 15-year-olds have received the recommended doses.
“There has been a decline in HPV vaccination post-COVID-19 in the most recent generation of U.S. adolescents. This is troubling as a decline in vaccination uptake would potentially lead to smaller gains,” Deshmukh warned.
Researchers urge policymakers, healthcare providers, and parents to prioritize HPV vaccination to combat cervical cancer and protect future generations.