Eradicating cervical cancer - plus other diseases at the same time

Vaccination is recognised as one of the most successful approaches of modern medicine. Vaccination is famously responsible for eradicating smallpox and has effectively reduced the risk of infection from many other diseases such as polio and measles. The close link between cancer of the cervix and the human papilloma virus (HPV) means that by eliminating HPV infection, a global vaccination programme could also lead to the disappearance of cervical cancer. This was the message delivered by Prof Harald zur Hausen.

As previously discussed on this blog by senior London gynaecologist Adeola Olaitan although the major impact is on women’s health, there are also important implications for men’s health. Professor zur Hausen won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of HPV as the cause of cervical cancer. He says:  “If we wish to achieve eradication within a reasonable period of time, we will need to vaccinate both sexes, and research has shown that boys respond to vaccination in the same way as girls. The main risk of developing cancer after HPV infection is with women and, because of the cost of vaccines, it has been decided to start with girls. But other cancers associated with HPV infection, such as anal and oral cancer, are more common in men, and genital warts occur in both sexes. So there is good reason to vaccinate boys before the onset of sexual activity as well”.