Cervical cancer vaccine program in England a success

Upon analyzing the test results of more than 4000 young women, British researchers at Public Health England have determined that the national vaccination program, launched in England in 2008, has resulted in a drop in HPV infection rates among young sexually active women (aged 16-18) to 1 in 15. In addition to the infection-reducing benefits of this immunization program, it is believed that herd-immunity is also occurring as a result of this initiative, whereby "vaccination of a large population affords some protection against infection to those in the population who are not vaccinated." To read more about this study, presented on April 14, 2014 at the Society for General Microbiology annual conference in Liverpool, England, click here.