Australian Cervical Cancer Jab Programme Sparks Rapid Decline In Genital Warts

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 16 Oct 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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There has been a rapid and steep decline in new cases of genital warts in Australia since the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination became available, reveals research published ahead of print in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

But the vaccine used in Australia is Gardasil, which targets HPV types 6,11, 16 and 18. HPV types 6 and 11 are associated with the development of highly infectious genital warts while HPV types 16 and 18 are associated with the development of cervical cancer.

Cervarix, which targets only HPV types 16 and 18, is being used in the national vaccination programme in the UK.

The research team assessed the numbers of new clients requiring treatment for genital warts at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between 2004 and 2008, inclusive. The centre is the largest sexual health clinic in the city, which has a population of 3.5 million.

Australia started its free HPV vaccination programme for 12 to 18 year old girls in schools, and for women aged 26 and younger in GP practices and community clinics, in April and July 2007, respectively.

It was one of the first countries in the world to start immunising against cervical cancer, and take-up rates are between 69% and 75% for schoolgirls and between 65% and 70% for young women.

During the study period, 36,055 clients visited the Health Centre in Melbourne, and genital warts were diagnosed in around one in 10 (10.6%).

The proportion of women under the age of 28 who were diagnosed with genital warts fell by 25% each quarter throughout 2008. During the period before the introduction of the jab, new cases of genital warts rose by just under 2% each quarter.

The number of new cases of genital warts also fell by an average of 5% each quarter among young straight men throughout 2008. There was no evidence of any similar falls in diagnosis rates among those outside the target age groups.

"The magnitude of the reduction in women [under] 28 years indicates a potential for substantial reductions in wart associated morbidity and costs, and has important implications for countries deciding between the [Gardasil and Cervarix] vaccine," comment the authors.

Source
Sexually Transmitted Infections