Cervical cancer deaths before 30 nearly erased in England, study shows

London: The HPV vaccine is showing dramatic real-world results. A new study has found that it has reduced the risk of dying from cervical cancer before age 30 in England to almost zero, the first research of its kind to track mortality impact.

Published Thursday in The Lancet medical journal, the study analyzed cervical cancer deaths in England between 2020 and 2024. The findings are striking: no women in the country aged between 20 and 24 died from cervical cancer during that 4-year period.

Researchers call it a landmark proof that HPV vaccination programs save lives, not just prevent infections. The vaccine targets high-risk strains of human papillomavirus, which causes more than 90% of cervical cancer cases. England introduced routine HPV vaccination for girls in 2008, later extending it to boys, and coverage rates have been high among school-age children.

The “almost zero” mortality before age 30 marks a major public health milestone. Cervical cancer was once a leading cause of cancer death in young women. The data from 2020-2024 suggests the vaccinated cohorts are now reaching adulthood with near-complete protection against fatal outcomes.

Scientists note this is the first study to directly link HPV vaccination to a drop in deaths, not just precancerous lesions. The results are expected to strengthen global calls for wider HPV vaccine adoption, especially in countries where cervical cancer remains a major killer.

Public health experts say the England data offers a glimpse of what’s possible with sustained vaccination. If coverage stays high, cervical cancer could become rare in future generations.