No young women have died of cervical cancer in England for years
New Scientist 2026-06-17 23:30:22
Context: In England, a notable trend has emerged in the fight against cervical cancer, with a significant reduction in mortality rates among young women. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been instrumental in this decline. As a result, England has seen a substantial decrease in cervical cancer-related deaths.
Key Facts
- No young women have died from cervical cancer in England for several years, marking a significant milestone in the country's fight against the disease.
- The HPV vaccine has been crucial in reducing infections and cases of cervical cancer, and now evidence suggests it also prevents deaths from the disease.
- The UK's vaccination program against HPV has contributed to this trend, providing protection against the strains of the virus most commonly associated with cervical cancer.
- The reduction in cervical cancer mortality rates among young women in England is a direct result of the widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine, which has been in use since 2008.
- According to data, the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths in England has decreased substantially since the introduction of the HPV vaccine, with no reported deaths among young women in recent years.