Vaccination against HPV human papillomavirus (human papillomavirus) results in fewer people transmitting HPV to others. Consequently, the spread of HPV decreases. Research shows that the HPV vaccination indirectly also protects unvaccinated women to some extent. This highlights the importance of vaccination against HPV.
Research among unvaccinated women
Does HPV human papillomavirus (human papillomavirus) vaccination also lead to fewer HPV infections in women who have not received the HPV vaccine? Researchers from RIVM investigated this. They did so using data collected between eight and thirteen years after the start of the HPV vaccination program.
Decline in new infections
The research found that the number of new infections with HPV types 16 and 45 among unvaccinated women has decreased. This decline was about 70%. This means that since the introduction of the HPV vaccination, out of every hundred unvaccinated women who would get an HPV infection with type 16 or 45, thirty now get an HPV infection with one of these types.
Vaccinated women are better protected against HPV than unvaccinated women. Recent research shows that vaccinated women are also much better protected against cervical cancer and severe precursors of this disease.
HPV infection and vaccination effect
A long-term infection with HPV can lead to cervical cancer and other forms of HPV-related cancer, such as cancer of the vagina, labia, anus, penis, and in the mouth and throat. Studies show that the HPV vaccination protects against long-term HPV infections by about 95% and against cervical cancer by about 90%.