Drawing on a decade of global data, researchers have sketched a bright picture on the impact of HPV vaccination, including cross-protection, herd immunity and ultimately widespread disease reduction.

Data from more than 60 million patients has been “compelling”, write the authors, saying the impact of HPV vaccination programs in 14 high-income countries worldwide has been substantial.

“Our results provide strong evidence of HPV vaccination working to prevent cervical cancer in real-world settings, as both the cause and proximal disease endpoints are significantly declining,” they conclude.

Pooling data from more than 60 studies, the HPV Vaccination Impact Study Group found that within nine years of the vaccine being rolled out, there were dramatic decreases in HPV infection, genital warts and precancerous cervical lesions among girls and women.