Because cervical cancer will not develop in the absence of high-risk HPV, vaccines that prevent HPV infection will also protect against the development of cervical cancer. Two vaccines are now available to protect against the 2 most common high-risk types of HPV, types 16 & 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancers, many cases of abnormal cervical cells and many abnormal cervical smears. In addition, one of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11 that cause the majority of genital warts.

Studies have shown that both vaccines are very effective in preventing infection by HPV types targeted and also provide lower levels of protection against a few other HPV types. However, these vaccines do not protect against all the HPV types that can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Therefore, cervical screening remains essential to protect against cancers arising from these other HPV types.

Both vaccines have been designed to prevent HPV infection occurring in the first place. Therefore, they provide the greatest protection if given before HPV infection can occur, for example, to adolescent girls before the start of sexual activities. The implementation of organised programmes to vaccinate adolescent girls is an important strategy for the prevention of cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination is an important advance in the battle against cervical cancer. Together, organised cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination will offer the most effective protection against cervical cancer.

In England, we have a national school-based HPV vaccination programme that started in September 2008 and covers girls aged 12-13 with a catch-up programme for girls aged 14-17.

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