South Africa’s HPV vaccine reduces infections in girls
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In 2014, South Africa began vaccinating girls in grade 4 against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most cervical cancers. Public health researchers evaluated the programme’s impact by comparing HPV prevalence in adolescent girls before and after the vaccine’s introduction.
The researchers found that infections with HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases globally, fell by 83% between the two groups.
This reduction occurred among all girls, including those living with HIV, a condition that increases the risk of developing cervical cancer. The study focused on girls aged 17 to 18 in 2019 and 2023, comparing those who were too old for the initial vaccination program with those who had been eligible. Researchers recruited 2,357 participants from public healthcare facilities across four South African provinces, with roughly one-quarter living with HIV.
They also noted reductions in related HPV types, showing the vaccine offered cross-protection. Beyond direct protection, the researchers observed “herd protection,” meaning unvaccinated girls in the post-vaccine group had lower rates of HPV infection than those before the programme began. South Africa recently switched to a single-dose HPV vaccine in October 2024, and researchers plan to continue monitoring the programme’s long-term effectiveness, particularly for those living with HIV.
