Researchers find HPV vaccination provides long-term protection

Many countries routinely vaccinate teenage girls against human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. New research published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International
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suggests that vaccination against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 offers long-lasting protection.

Analysis of 10 randomised controlled trials, involving 46,436 participants, found that vaccination prevented 83% of infections in trials with a short duration of follow-up (median 3 years) and 94% of infections in trials with a long duration of follow-up (median 6 years). Efficacy of vaccination against persistent HPV infection was 90% with short follow-up and 95% with long follow-up.

“Long-term observation does not indicate any loss of antiviral protection after vaccination,” write Yvonne Deleré, from the Robert Koch Institute Berlin, and co-authors.