The HPV Vaccine Isn't Just Preventing Cervical Cancer, New Research Reveals
New research published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that HPV vaccines provide broader protection than previously known. The study of 1.4 million Americans indicates that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of head and neck cancers in addition to cervical cancer.
Why it matters
This evidence strengthens the public health case for universal HPV vaccination as a multi-cancer prevention tool rather than just a cervical cancer preventative.
A highly effective vaccine for the human papillomavirus is looking even better than we hoped, thanks to new research that suggest HPV vaccination can prevent a variety of cancers, not just cervical cancer.
Researchers in Taiwan examined the medical records of over 1.4 million Americans, half of whom were vaccinated against HPV. Compared to unvaccinated people, HPV-vaccinated people were significantly less likely to develop cancers of the neck and head, they found.
The findings provide “real-world evidence supporting the potential broader benefits of HPV vaccination,” the authors wrote in their paper, published this month in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
HPV is a ubiqutious passenger of humanity. Just about every person will catch the sexually transmitted virus at some point in their lives. However, there are actually around 200 types of HPV.
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