HPV Vaccine Decreases Rate of Cervical Abnormalities, Study Finds  

June 20, 2011 — In Australia, the human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent forms of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer has helped reduce the number of teenage girls developing cervical abnormalities by as much as 50%, according to a study <http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2960551-5/abstract  published in The Lancet, Reuters <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/us-australia-cancer-vaccine-idUSTRE75F7PX20110616> reports. For the study, researchers compared Pap test results of girls who received Merck's Gardasil vaccine with results from girls who did not receive the vaccine. Fewer of the vaccinated girls -- 0.42% -- had high-grade cervical abnormalities, compared with 0.8% of unvaccinated girls, the study found.

Julia Brotherton, an epidemiologist at the Victorian Cytology Service Registries and lead author of the study, said the data show "a reduction in the number of very young women with high grade cervical lesions diagnosed" since Australia started its HPV vaccination program in 2007. She added, "In conjunction with the data from our colleagues in the sexual health field, who have already demonstrated a significant reduction in the occurrence of genital warts since the vaccine program started, we are optimistic that this is an indication that the vaccine program is already beginning to have an impact." The study found that the vaccine had a less significant impact among older women (Ee Lyn, Reuters, 6/16).