Benefits of catch‐up in vaccination against human papillomavirus in medium‐ and low‐income countries. Issue 8 (15th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baussano, Iacopo; Lazzarato, Fulvio; Ronco, Guglielmo; Dillner, Joakim; Franceschi, Silvia
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 133:Issue 8(2013:Oct. 15)
• Page Start: 1876
• Page End: 1881
• Publication Date: 2013-05-15
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of a birth cohort of girls in the 9–13 age range is recommended as a priority, but decreases in HPV vaccine cost may make catch‐up of a few additional cohorts more attractive not only in high‐income countries. We assessed the reduction in HPV16 and 18 infections that could be achieved in a medium‐ (Poland) and a low‐income (Guinea) country by adding one‐time catch‐up of 12‐ to 19‐year‐old girls to the vaccination of 11‐year‐old girls. According to our <italic>ad hoc</italic> adapted dynamic model of HPV infection transmission, the addition of catch‐up was estimated to bring forward the 50% reduction of HPV16/18 prevalence due to vaccination in women ≤35 by as much as 5 years. Catch‐up of 12‐ to 15‐year olds reduced the cumulative probability of HPV16/18 infections by age 35 in the relevant cohorts by about 30% in both countries. Catch‐up of 16‐ to 19‐year‐old girls added little. Regardless of the chosen catch‐up strategy, 16 to 20% of HPV16/18 prevention from vaccination was attributable to herd immunity. Assuming a sufficiently low vaccine cost, the addition of a catch‐up round is, therefore, worth considering in medium/low‐income countries to extend vaccine benefits to less young adolescent girls whose future access to cervical screening is uncertain.</p> </abstract>