Cervical cancer deaths in England fall to zero in young women given vaccine
BBC News 2026-06-17 23:01:33
Context: In England, the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2008 has led to a significant decline in cervical cancer deaths among young women. A recent study published in the Lancet found that between 2020 and 2024, no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24, a first over a five-year period. This achievement is attributed to the vaccination campaign, which has saved around 200 lives so far.
Key Facts
- The study published in the Lancet found that around 200 lives have been saved in England thanks to the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer.
- Between 2020 and 2024, no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24, a first over a five-year period, whereas around 23 deaths would have been expected without vaccination.
- The HPV vaccine has been offered to school-age girls in England since 2008, and those vaccinated at age 12 or 13 now have close to zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30.
- Cervical cancer is still the 14th most common cancer among females in the UK, with 3,300 people diagnosed every year, and HPV, a virus spread through close skin-to-skin contact, causes 99% of those cases.
- Vaccination rates in England have fallen below recommended levels, with 76% of girls in England vaccinated by the age of 15 in 2024-25, well below the 90% recommended by the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer.