HPV VACCINATION PROGRAMMES: HOW EFFICIENT AND SAFE?

The latest figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) show that an estimated 570.000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2018, making it the fourth most common cancer in women globally. [...]every year more than 310.000 women die from this preventable disease. According to the health care system's organisation the coverage rate and the programmes of vaccination differ: some of them are offered through schools (Australia, UK) while others are provided in private clinics or public primary care (United States)14. Vaccine efficacy was sustained for up to 6 years. [...]the 9vHPV vaccine could potentially provide broader coverage and prevent 90% of cervical cancer cases worldwide25. The authors included 26 randomised controlled trials (73.428 participants) and the primary outcomes were: histologically- confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2, CIN 3 and AIS) or worse associated with the HPV types included in the vaccine or any lesions irrespective of HPV type, invasive cervical cancer and safety/ occurrence of adverse effects.