Updated Cochrane Reviews Confirm HPV Vaccine’s Dramatic Impact on Cancer Prevention

Population-Level Evidence

Two updated Cochrane reviews provide powerful new evidence on the impact of HPV vaccination. One review examined population-level outcomes across more than 132 million people, while the other conducted a network meta-analysis of clinical trial data. Together, they confirm that HPV vaccination significantly reduces the risk of cervical and other HPV-related cancers.

Senior author Jo Morrison, BM, University of Exeter, emphasized: “The evidence of safety and efficacy of HPV vaccination is not, and should not be, controversial.”

Effectiveness by Age

Based on data covering 4.5 million person-years, vaccination by age 16 was associated with an 80% reduction in cervical cancer risk (RR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.09–0.44). Even more striking, long-term studies of girls vaccinated at ages 12–13 reported no cervical cancers detected in those cohorts.

These findings reinforce guidance from the American Cancer Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC, all of which recommend routine HPV vaccination beginning between ages 9 and 12. Protection was notably weaker when vaccination occurred after age 16, underscoring the importance of early immunization before first exposure to HPV.

Safety Profile

The Cochrane team also investigated concerns often raised on social media, including links to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, infertility, and paralysis. No evidence supported these claims. Similarly, there was no indication that HPV vaccination encouraged earlier sexual activity.

Morrison concluded: “It’s great to now have a large body of evidence that shows that HPV vaccines do not cause long-term harms,” contrasting this with the 350,000 annual deaths worldwide from cervical cancer.

Expert Endorsement

Independent experts echoed the findings. Linda Eckert, MD, University of Washington, called HPV vaccines “one of the most efficacious vaccines ever invented.”