‘It’s incredible’: HPV vaccine saves thousands of women from cervical cancer, UK study shows

Rates have fallen 62% in women offered the HPV jab between the age of 14 and 16, and 34% for older teenagers

The NHS vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer has so far stopped thousands of women from developing the disease and experiencing pre-cancerous changes to cells, a study has found.

In the first proof that the programme launched in England 13 years ago is saving lives, the Cancer Research UK-funded study found that cervical cancer rates in women offered the vaccine between the ages of 12 and 13 (now in their 20s) were 87% lower than in an unvaccinated population.