Overview
- Two Cochrane reviews published in November 2025 combine 60 randomized trials (~157,000 participants) with 225 observational studies (>132 million people) to assess effectiveness and safety.
- Girls vaccinated at or before age 16 were about 80% less likely to develop cervical cancer than unvaccinated peers, with stronger benefits seen at younger ages.
- Population data show large reductions in precancerous cervical lesions (CIN2+ and CIN3+) and anogenital warts following vaccination programs.
- The reviews found no increase in serious adverse events, and systematic checks of frequently alleged conditions showed no evidence of a causal link to vaccination.
- Authors urge wider uptake for girls and boys before sexual debut and continued cervical screening, while noting the need for more data from low- and middle-income countries.