No cervical-cancer deaths recorded in England among women aged 20-24 from 2020 to 2024, though uptake has fallen since COVID

New Scientist reported that no women in England aged 20 to 24 died of cervical cancer between 2020 and 2024. This marks the first time zero deaths have been recorded for the age group. The outcome follows high vaccination coverage.

Around 90 per cent of women in England aged 20 to 24 received the HPV vaccine when they were 12 or 13. Historically, approximately 23 deaths would have been expected over the five-year period. Peter Sasieni and Milena Falcaro at Queen Mary University of London conducted the study, published in The Lancet.

Sasieni stated the results are almost certainly due to vaccination coverage. The researchers estimate that approximately 200 cervical-cancer deaths have already been prevented in England. Fewer deaths than expected also occurred among women aged 25 to 29 during the same period.

Sasieni noted that five consecutive years with no deaths in the younger group is significant, as no prior year in the data showed zero deaths. HPV vaccination has been offered to girls aged 12 or 13 in the UK since 2008 and to boys since 2019. Sasieni stated that long-term protection against HPV infection appears likely.

Caroline Temmink stated that alongside cervical screening, HPV vaccination is central to the NHS ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.