HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer & HPV related diseases

Cervical cancer is a cause of significant disease worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of cervical cancer in almost 100% cases. HPV infection can also lead to genital warts, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, vaginal, vulval, anal and penile cancers. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for more than 70% of HPV-related cancers whilst HPV types 6 and 11 cause approximately 90% of the cases of genital warts. Effective interventions to prevent HPV associated diseases can therefore prevent cervical cancers and genital warts. Primary prevention of cervical cancer can be achieved by vaccination and secondary prevention by screening. Currently screening options of secondary prevention include visual inspection with acetic acid ( VIA), cervical cytology and detection of high risk HPV-DNA viruses. Prophylactic HPV vaccines have been developed recently which will reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases in the community. For this primary preventive measure, two vaccines are available worldwide: quadrivalent HPV vaccine targeting HPV types - 16, 18, 6 and 11 and a bivalent vaccine against HPV types 16 and 18. Clinical trials have shown that these vaccinations are safe, immunogenic and highly effective against typespecific HPV infections.