HPV VACCINATION ROLE IN CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Relevance: Cervical cancer (CC) is a socially significant disease in the development of which the human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a central role. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus, affecting 80% of sexually active men and women by age 45. Since 2017, the World Health Organization has recommended that all countries implement HPV vaccination programs to reduce and eliminate CC. The study aimed to examine the role of HPV vaccination in eliminating CC over the past decade. Methods: The literature search was done in the PUBMED, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases for the last ten years using the keywords «cervical cancer,» «vaccination,» and «human papillomavirus.» The review included the results of randomized studies and meta-analyses. Results: The literature provides evidence of the effectiveness and safety of HPV vaccination in countries that have introduced HPV vaccine immunization. The compelling evidence for the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in preventing HPV urge to move from control to elimination of HPV-related diseases. Conclusion: CC is only cancer that can be prevented by vaccination. The development of HPV vaccines and the introduction of HPV immunization into national vaccination schedules helped many countries reduce HPV prevalence and thus reduce HPV incidence.