Study Finds HPV Vaccine Can Nearly Eliminate Cervical Cancer Deaths

A study from the UK has revealed that girls vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) at ages 12-13 have close to zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of thirty.

The research, described as the first of its kind, found that no cervical cancer deaths were recorded among women aged 20 to 24 in England between 2020 and 2024. This is the first time that has happened over a five-year period. Researchers estimate that without vaccination, around 23 deaths would have been expected. Roughly 200 lives have been saved in England so far since school-age girls began receiving the jab in 2008.

“It’s incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer,” said lead researcher Professor Peter Sasieni of Queen Mary University of London.

HPV is believed to cause 99% of cervical cancer cases and spreads through close skin‑to‑skin contact. While most infections clear on their own, some can cause abnormal cell changes that develop into cancer years later.

In Belize, the Ministry of Health has administered the HPV vaccine to over 46,000 standard four students nationwide since 2016. However, the vaccine has faced opposition from some members of the Catholic Church over efforts to administer it in church-run schools.

Health Minister Kevin Bernard publicly appealed to church leaders earlier this year to reconsider their opposition, pushing back on suggestions that the vaccine promotes promiscuity.