New HPV infections will plummet by 2010

The number of new human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in Australian females is expected to more than halve by 2010 and fall by 92 per cent by 2050, thanks to extensive HPV vaccination, according to a new study by Cancer Council.

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, looks at the predicted impact of the National HPV Vaccination Program in Australia, which began in April 2007. HPV immunisation has the potential to prevent up to 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

“We expect to see a very fast reduction in the number of new HPV infections, largely due to the high school vaccination program, which we estimate has achieved high coverage of just over 80 percent of 12 to 13 year-old girls,” says Dr Karen Canfell, from Cancer Council’s Research Division in NSW and lead author of the report.

"But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. This reduction will only occur if we maintain this high vaccination coverage amongst younger age groups, as it will provide immunity against HPV before girls are exposed to the virus," she said.

Co-author Dr Julia Brotherton, from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, agrees saying: “Parents of girls in Years 7 to 10 need to take the opportunity for their daughters to be vaccinated now, as the free vaccination program for all girls only runs until 2009. This could save your daughter’s life.”

According to Dr Canfell it will still take some time for the reduction in HPV to translate to a significant decrease in cervical cancer. “Cervical cancer is a slow developer, but we do know that HPV immunisation has the potential to prevent a large proportion of cervical cancers.

“While this is all very positive news, we must remind all women to continue being screened through regular Pap testing, even those who have been vaccinated,” added Dr Canfell. “The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of cancer-causing HPV, so regular screening is absolutely essential to detect abnormal cell changes that can be treated before cancer develops.”

Cancer Council recommends that all women aged 18-70 who have ever had sex should have regular Pap tests, as per the National Medical Health and Research Guidelines which recommend testing every two years.

(Source: International Journal of Cancer: Cancer Council Australia: August 2008)