A recent US government report shows the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is having a significant impact on cervical cancer prevention among young women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that rates of precancerous lesions among women aged 20-24 screened for cervical cancer dropped by about 80% from 2008 to 2022.
The CDC report also showed drops in precancerous lesion rates in other age groups screened, with a 37% decrease among women who were 25 to 29 years old. The data suggests that the HPV vaccination program has had a considerable impact on cervical precancers.
Experts credit the rise in uptake of the safe and effective HPV vaccine for the substantial drop in precancerous lesions. “This should reassure parents that they’re doing the right thing in getting their children vaccinated against HPV,” said Jane Montealegre, a cancer-prevention researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The findings add to growing global evidence that the HPV vaccine is helping to cut cases of cervical cancer. As vaccinated women age into older age groups, declines in cervical precancers are expected.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/02/28/hpv-vaccine-cervical-cancer-prevention-cdc-report