A landmark study published in The Lancet has recorded the first five-year period in which no woman aged 20 to 24 died from cervical cancer in England, directly attributing the milestone to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program that began in schools in 2008.
Between 2020 and 2024, there were zero cervical cancer deaths in this age group. Without the vaccination program, researchers estimate that approximately 23 deaths would have been expected over the same period. In total, around 200 lives have been saved in England since schoolgirls began receiving the HPV jab.
“It’s incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer,” said Professor Peter Sasieni of Queen Mary University of London, the lead researcher. “As vaccinated generations grow older, we’ll see many more lives saved from cervical cancer.”
Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer among women in the UK, with about 3,300 new cases diagnosed annually. Nearly all cases — 99% — are caused by HPV, a virus spread through skin-to-skin contact. Most HPV infections clear naturally, but persistent infections with high-risk types can cause cells in the cervix to become abnormal, eventually leading to cancer years or decades later.
The HPV vaccine, first introduced in the UK for girls aged 12 to 13 in 2008, works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to the virus and prevent it from infecting cells. The program was expanded to include boys in 2019, protecting against anal, penile, throat, and mouth cancers as well as reducing virus transmission.
The study analysed cervical cancer mortality data linked to vaccination records, providing the first direct evidence that the vaccine is not just preventing precancerous changes but actively saving lives. Children vaccinated at age 12 or 13 now have near-zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30. Before the vaccination campaign, approximately 20 deaths per year were recorded in that age group.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, called the findings a milestone. “We know the HPV vaccine is extremely effective at stopping cervical cancer before it starts, and for the first time these findings show it is saving lives.”
Despite the success, vaccination rates remain below the levels needed to eliminate cervical cancer entirely. The current vaccination rate in England is 76% of girls vaccinated by age 15, well below the 90% target recommended by the World Health Organization to achieve elimination by 2040. Cancer Research UK has warned that uptake is lowest in some communities and urged targeted action to address the gap.
The UK government has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2040 and is rolling out catch-up HPV vaccination campaigns through community pharmacies. HPV self-testing kits are being sent to women who have not attended screening appointments.
Women aged 25 to 64 are still advised to attend regular cervical screening, since the vaccine does not protect against all cancer-causing HPV types and does not treat existing infections.
“We are boosting vaccine uptake so that more young people benefit from this life-saving protection,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said, “including rolling out catch-up HPV vaccination campaigns via community pharmacies.”
Sources: (1) Sasieni P, et al. Cervical cancer mortality after HPV vaccination in England. The Lancet. 2026. (2) Hutchinson S. Cervical cancer deaths fall to zero in young women given vaccine. BBC News / Yahoo News. 17 June 2026.