21/06/2026
🚨The HPV Vaccine Has Brought Cervical Cancer Deaths to Zero
A study published in The Lancet just revealed that the HPV vaccine has brought cervical cancer deaths to zero among young women aged 20 to 24 — and greatly reduced deaths in other age groups.
It’s the most powerful proof yet that modern vaccines save lives.
Researchers analyzing population-level data in England found that between 2020 and 2024, there were zero cervical cancer deaths recorded among women aged 20 to 24. Yes, zero. Absolutely none.
Without the school-based vaccination program, which was first introduced to girls aged 12 to 13 in 2008, scientists estimate that about 23 young women in this age group would have died during that four-year period. Since its launch, the program has already prevented an estimated 200 deaths since 2008 in the UK, with even greater benefits expected to emerge as vaccinated cohorts grow older.
While these results mark a monumental achievement in public health and bring the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating cervical cancer within reach, experts caution that the vaccine is only part of the solution.
Because no vaccine offers complete protection against every cancer-causing strain of HPV—which is responsible for approximately 99% of cervical cancers—regular cervical screening remains absolutely essential.
Furthermore, maintaining high vaccination rates remains critical, especially as post-pandemic uptake has seen declines. By combining widespread immunization with consistent screening, public health officials hope to transition cervical cancer from a major threat to a preventable disease of the past.
source: Sasieni, P., & Falcaro, M. (2026). Cervical cancer mortality trends following HPV vaccination in England, 2001–24: an analysis of population-based mortality data. The Lancet.
