Imagine residing in a nation boasting exceptional HPV immunization rates and a standardized cervical cancer detection regimen. Emerging research indicates that, contingent upon the timing of your inoculations, you might require only a handful of screenings throughout your existence.
In this particular scenario, that country is Norway. Employing a computational framework, investigators determined that females in Norway who received their vaccinations between the ages of 12 and 24 would necessitate testing only once every 15 to 25 years. For women who underwent the HPV shots between the ages of 25 and 30, a decade between diagnostic intervals would be sufficient, the researchers stated on February 3rd in the journal *Annals of Internal Medicine*.
The HPV vaccine is classified as a “cancer-averse inoculation,” according to Kimberly Levinson, the head of Johns Hopkins Gynecologic Oncology at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, who was not associated with the investigative group. There exists already robust effectiveness data for this inoculation, and the recent findings reveal “the potential that is present if we can effectively immunize individuals at the opportune moment,” Levinson remarked.
The human papillomavirus is transmitted sexually, and virtually everyone will contract HPV subsequent to becoming sexually engaged. In most instances, the body’s immune system manages the infection. However, if an infection persists with one of the high-risk HPV strains, it can result in malignancy. HPV is implicated in cervical, pharyngeal, penile, and anal cancers, among others. In Norway, both girls and boys are administered the HPV vaccine at age 12. In the United States, the inoculation is advised for boys and girls aged 11 to 12 years. A catch-up immunization plan is available for certain older age groups.
In 2021, the prevalence of HPV vaccine coverage in Norway surpassed 90 percent. HPV diagnostics, which are recommended every five years, constitute the primary detection strategy in Norway, a country with universal healthcare. Studies have demonstrated that HPV testing is superior to Pap smears in identifying aberrant cells prior to their cancerous transformation. Norway’s strategy for addressing cervical cancer has positioned them to eradicate the disease by 2039, according to further modeling research.
Conversely, HPV immunization coverage hovers around 57 percent for individuals aged 13 to 15 in the United States, as of 2023. Furthermore, screening, whether through HPV testing or Pap smears, is not as consistent. Approximately one-quarter of women aged 21 to 65 were overdue for cervical cancer screening in 2023. Rates of screening for cervical cancer saw a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic and have yet to rebound to 2019 levels. This occurs against the backdrop of a consistent decrease in this type of screening observed over roughly the past two decades.
Levinson emphasized the importance of interpreting the new study within the context of Norway’s specific circumstances, which include an exceptionally high immunization rate and a considerably more stringent and unified screening protocol. “This contrasts with the situation we face in the United States.”
A dual approach of both immunization and screening for cervical cancer prevention will remain critical in the United States, according to Levinson. “We aim to advocate for HPV vaccination as it is both safe and effective,” she stated, “while simultaneously ensuring we do not neglect the opportunity to screen women.”
