Overview
- Published on November 24 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the paired analyses synthesize extensive trial and real‑world evidence on HPV vaccination.
- The randomized trial review pooled 60 studies with 157,414 participants and found all licensed vaccines prevent oncogenic HPV infection without new safety concerns.
- The observational review drew on 225 studies covering more than 132 million people and linked vaccination to lower community rates of cervical cancer.
- Girls vaccinated at or before age 16 had about an 80% lower risk of cervical cancer, with large reductions in CIN2+/CIN3+ precancerous lesions and anogenital warts.
- Authors recommend vaccinating girls and boys before sexual debut and call for expanded programs and research in low‑ and middle‑income countries alongside continued screening.