The study analysed data from more than 926,000 girls and women using national health registers. A total of 930 women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, including 97 who had been vaccinated. Women vaccinated before age 17 had an almost 80 percent lower risk of cervical cancer.

Credits: PA; Author: PA;

Participants were followed for up to 18 years after vaccination, and researchers found no evidence of waning protection during the observation period. Vaccination is offered through school programmes in Sweden, and those vaccinated at a younger age had a lower risk than those vaccinated later.