We already have the knowledge and experience to prevent much of the human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease burden globally. As a multidisciplinary research community, involving disciplines across the spectrum from basic science, epidemiology, vaccinology and screening to public health, we have provided much of the evidence base that has been translated into highly effective public health programs around the world.We already have the knowledge and experience to prevent much of the human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease burden globally. As a multidisciplinary research community, involving disciplines across the spectrum from basic science, epidemiology, vaccinology and screening to public health, we have provided much of the evidence base that has been translated into highly effective public health programs around the world.

Notably, prophylactic HPV vaccination programs have already prevented HPV infections, genital warts and cervical pre-cancers in many countries. HPV-based screening programs now have strong evidence to support their use as a more sensitive way to detect underlying cervical abnormalities, and we eagerly await the positive impacts of these emerging programs, which will be applicable in both unvaccinated and vaccinated populations.

There is an imperative, with the tools now available, to provide every woman with access to effective cervical screening and every girl with access to prevention through vaccination. Access should be available irrespective of where a girl or woman lives, her social status or whether she is immunocompromised.

HPV-related cancers also affect men, and efforts to prevent HPV infection in men through HPV vaccination have the potential both to prevent many of these cancers and to reduce the risk of HPV transmission to sexual partners.

The International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) believes all countries should consider and promote national guidelines and programs to prevent HPV-related diseases, supported by international guidelines, access to international expertise and support for implementation through increased access to more affordable vaccines and screening technology (e.g. through revolving funds for vaccines). IPVS could be a bridge for these efforts.

As the HPV 2017 conference is held in Cape Town, South Africa, a region of the world with a very large burden of HPV-related disease (complicated by a large burden of HIV), we call on governments to acknowledge both their current challenges and the immense opportunities to save lives by adopting the tools we already know can work to prevent HPV and HPV-related cancers.¹

References

1. Garland SM, Brotherton JML, Moscicki AB, Kaufmann AM, Stanley M, Bhatla N, Sankaranarayanan R, de Sanjosé S, Palefsky JM; IPVS. HPV vaccination of immunocompromised hosts. Papillomavirus Res. 2017 Dec;4:35-38. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29179867/

2. WHO | Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2021 Apr 27]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240014107

MORE IPVS POSITION ARTICLES:

Click here to read them in the IPVS webpage

IPVS Policy Statement on Safety of HPV Vaccines

IPVS Statement on HPV Vaccination of Immunocompromised Hosts

IPVS Statement: Moving Towards Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem

IPVS Statement on Temporary HPV Vaccine Shortage. Implications Globally to Achieve Equity