HPV Vaccination: Evidence-Based Benefits in Cervical Cancer

Two new reviews by Cochrane provide further evidence that HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes. Pooled analyses including more than 132 million people show an approximately 80% reduction in cervical cancer risk when vaccination occurs before viral exposure.

Trials and large observational syntheses measured cervical cancer and precancerous lesions as primary endpoints across extensive population datasets, reporting direct effects on disease-relevant outcomes. The reviews report about an 80% reduction in cervical cancer risk for girls vaccinated before age 16, with substantial reductions in precancerous lesions in pooled cohorts. Maximal benefit accrues when the vaccine series is completed prior to viral exposure, ideally in early adolescence.

Pooled safety data indicate mainly transient, minor adverse effects and no increase in serious adverse events compared with controls, supporting confident counseling on expected reactions. Typical side effects are localized pain at the injection site and short-lived systemic symptoms; large datasets show no signal for increased serious outcomes.