Cervical cancer deaths reach zero in young vaccinated women in England

A landmark study published in the Lancet has revealed that cervical cancer deaths have fallen to zero among young women in England who received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, marking a historic milestone in cancer prevention. Between 2020 and 2024, no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24—the first time this has occurred over a five-year period. Without vaccination, approximately 23 deaths would have been expected during this timeframe. The research, led by Prof Peter Sasieni at Queen Mary University of London, represents the first study of its kind demonstrating the life-saving impact of the HPV vaccination programme that began offering the jab to school-age girls in 2008.

The study found that children vaccinated at age 12 or 13 now have close to zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30, a dramatic shift from the pre-vaccination era when approximately 20 deaths per year occurred in that age group. Approximately 200 lives have been saved in England so far due to the vaccine. HPV, a virus spread through close skin-to-skin contact, is thought to cause 99% of cervical cancer cases. Most HPV infections clear naturally, but some lead to abnormal cell changes that can develop into cancer years later. Overall, cervical cancer remains the 14th most common cancer among females in the UK, with 3,300 diagnoses annually.

Despite these encouraging results, health officials warn that vaccination uptake has fallen below recommended levels. Current data shows only 76% of girls in England were vaccinated by age 15 in 2024-25, significantly below the 90% coverage the World Health Organization recommends to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat. Cancer Research UK, which funded the research, has urged the government to implement targeted action to reach communities with the lowest uptake. Prof Sasieni described the reduction in deaths as the "tip of the iceberg," noting that far more lives will be saved as vaccinated generations age. The UK government has set a goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2040, contingent on maintaining and improving vaccination rates.