Cervical Cancer & HPV Vaccination: A Public Health Imperative

Even today, many of us are still unaware that cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination.

- DR. PYALI CHATTERJEE, MS. KOMAL GOSWAMI & MS.DISHA GAUTAM

Despite the availability of the vaccine for several years, cervical cancer continues to pose a significant global public health challenge. It is primarily caused by certain high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), an infection that leads to cervical cancer in women and genital warts in men. Fortunately, the risk of HPV infection can be effectively reduced through vaccination. The HPV vaccine is recommended for all girls aged 9 to 26 years. Girls under 15 years are administered two doses, while those over 15 receive three doses over a span of six months. The vaccine is specifically designed to prevent infection from high-risk HPV types, particularly HPV-16 and HPV-18, which together account for about 70% of cervical cancer cases.

The invention of the HPV vaccine is a major milestone in cancer prevention. The first successful HPV vaccine was developed in the early 2000s by Professor Ian Frazer and Dr. Jian Zhou at the University of Queensland, Australia. Their groundbreaking research led to the creation of the vaccine Gardasil, which was first approved for use in 2006. This revolutionary development has since transformed global public health strategies by offering a scientifically proven method to prevent HPV-related cancers.