New data shows success of national HPV vaccination efforts

The number of type 16 and 18 human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in young women in England has fallen as a result of national vaccination efforts.

New data from Public Health England has revealed that the vaccination programme coverage rate in England remained high in 2012 to 2013, with 86 percent of the target age group of 12 to 13-year-old girls receiving the full course.

Meanwhile, HPV infection rates have fallen to around one in 15 sexually active women aged 16 to 18 years, compared to one in five prior to the introduction of the immunisation programme.

The government believes this data could help to persuade other countries that are yet to implement an HPV vaccination programme of their own to do so.

Dr Kate Soldan, head of Public Health England's HPV surveillance unit, said: "We observed a clear correlation between immunisation coverage and reduced type 16 and 18 HPV infections. This adds to our confidence that the programme will achieve its aim of reducing cervical cancer."

HPV infections can cause genital warts, abnormal tissue growth and other changes to cells within the cervix, sometimes leading to cervical cancer.