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 types of HPV, types 16 & 18, which cause about 2/3 of cervical cancers and many cases of abnormal cervical cells together with their resulting 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 and cervical screening remains essential to protect against cancers arising from the other HPV types.

Both vaccines have been designed to prevent HPV infection occurring in the first place and therefore provide the greatest protection if given before HPV infection can occur, for example, to pre-adolescent girls before the start of sexual activities. The implementation of school-based programmes to vaccinate all pre-adolescent girls is an important national cancer control strategy.

Men can also be infected by HPV and they can pass HPV to their partners. Studies are ongoing to assess the value of the vaccines in preventing HPV infection and disease in males.

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 Scotland, we have a national school based HPV vaccination programme that covers girls aged 12-13 and 17-18, with a catch-up programme for girls aged 14-17 that will start in September 2009.

© 2009 European Cervical Cancer Association