Primary prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccination programs: future perspective on global impact

Abstract

Of the 40 types of human papillomavirus that can infect the mucosal epithelium, four types can now be prevented using prophylactic vaccination. Two of these types (high-risk types 16 and 18) cause 70% of cervical cancers, a proportion of other genital cancers and a subset of head and neck cancers. The low-risk types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts and the disease recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Thus, if primary HPV vaccination programs can be implemented effectively, the potential for a reduction in global disease burden is great. This article considers the current issues and challenges in delivering primary HPV vaccination programs effectively and the likely impact of the vaccines in both the near and more distant future.

Keywords::

• cervical cancer prevention
• cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
• cervical screening
• genital warts
• HPV DNA
• human papillomavirus vaccination
• vaccine safety
• vaccine surveillance

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Both authors are investigators on an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant for which CSL Biotherapies is a partner organization. Julia ML Brotherton was an investigator on a national human papillomavirus prevalence study which received partial, equal and unrestricted funding from CSL Biotherapies and GlaxoSmithKline. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.