Pharmacy DailyPharmacy Daily | HPV vax and screening decline

FALLING HPV vaccination and cervical screening rates are putting elimination of cervical cancer in Australia at risk, according to the latest annual report by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control.

The report found there was not a single documented case of cervical cancer among women under 25 across Australia in 2021 - the latest available data - demonstrating the efficacy of Australia's HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination program which began in 2007.

"This reflects the effectiveness of human papillomavirus immunisation, which was introduced in 2007," said co-author Associate Professor Megan Smith from the University of Sydney's Cancer Elimination Collaboration.

"While this is a great result, the key to reducing cervical cancer burden in unvaccinated populations is screening and improved targeting of services to disadvantaged groups, such as First Nations people, who experience far higher incidence and mortality rates than the general population."

The team also highlighted concerns about overdue HPV testing, affecting one in four women aged 35-39, and one in two aged 25-29.

"We are seeing some improvements, including in the 35- to 39-year-old age group, even in very remote areas," Associate Professor Smith said.

"But with 15% of that age group having never had a screening test in their lifetime, and only 50% of 25- to 29-year-olds being up to date with screening, we need to promote tailored strategies such as HPV self-collection," she explained.

Similarly, there has been an incremental decline over recent years in HPV vaccine coverage by the age of 15, falling more than 6 percentage points to just under 80% from a peak of almost 86% in 2020 among both girls and boys.

Associate Professor Smith said that with the vast majority of all cervical cancers caused by human papillomaviruses, vaccines and HPV-based cervical screening are essential to meeting the goal of eliminating the cancer as a public health problem by 2035.

Co-author Julia Brotherton, Professor of Cancer Prevention Policy at the University of Melbourne, emphasised the importance of all young people being vaccinated against HPV.

"Parents should think of this as a gift they can give their child to protect them for their lifetime," said Professor Brotherton.

"And I urge all young people who missed out at school, for whatever reason, to talk to their GP, nurse or pharmacist about accessing their free catchup dose."

Read the report HERE. KB