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  • 🌅 HPV Vaccines Can Provide Herd Immunity

🌅 HPV Vaccines Can Provide Herd Immunity

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Sunrise Stat
October 07, 2025

98% - The reduction in HPV infections as vaccination coverage increased over a 17-year study period.

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SOURCE
WHAT TO KNOW

  • Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine analyzed six studies in which 2,300 girls aged 13 to 26 in Cincinnati, Ohio were vaccinated against HPV from 2006 to 2023, finding vaccination significantly reduced the number of infections not only among vaccinated participants, but also among unvaccinated people. More specifically, over the 17-year study period, infections covered by the 2-valent vaccine fell by 98% among vaccinated participants, while infections covered by the 4-valent (94%) and 9-valent (76%) vaccines also fell drastically.

WHY IT MATTERS

  • Infections among unvaccinated people also fell by between 72% and 76% over the study period, suggesting HPV vaccination can provide herd immunity for populations. The authors say the results reinforce the potential of the HPV vaccine to prevent infection and reduce cases of cervical cancers globally.

CONNECT THE DOTS

  • HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and is responsible for over 690,000 new cancer cases each year, roughly 4.5% of all new cancer diagnoses globally. HPV is also the primary cause of cervical cancer and contributes to other genital cancers, as well as head and neck cancers in both women and men.