Australia's remarkable progress towards eliminating cervical cancer is a cause for celebration, but there's a catch! Despite the success, recent declines in HPV vaccination and cervical screening rates threaten to undermine future gains.
The 2025 Cervical Cancer Elimination Progress Report, authored by a team of esteemed researchers, reveals a promising trend: not a single case of cervical cancer among women under 25 in 2021. This achievement is attributed to Australia's HPV vaccination program, which began in 2007.
However, here's where it gets controversial: while 85% of Australian women aged 35-39 have had at least one HPV test, more than a quarter of eligible women are now overdue for screening, marking a decline for the second consecutive year. This is despite the introduction of self-collection as an option, which is now preferred by almost half of participants.
Associate Professor Megan Smith from the University of Sydney's Cancer Elimination Collaboration emphasizes the importance of screening and targeting disadvantaged groups, such as First Nations people, to further reduce the burden of cervical cancer.
But the news isn't all positive. HPV vaccine coverage among 15-year-olds has been on a downward trajectory, dropping more than 6 percentage points in recent years.
Associate Professor Smith warns, "The vast majority of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomaviruses, particularly HPV types 16 and 18. HPV vaccines and HPV-based cervical screening are our best tools to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035."
Co-author Julia Brotherton, Professor of Cancer Prevention Policy at the University of Melbourne, stresses the importance of HPV vaccination for all young people, as it prevents not only cervical cancer but also other HPV-related cancers like anal and throat cancers, with just a single dose.
Dr. Dorothy Machalek, an epidemiologist and HPV vaccine expert at the Kirby Institute, highlights the vital role of monitoring and data collection in tracking progress towards elimination, especially when it comes to equity.
The report calls for action from all stakeholders to address these declining trends and ensure that Australia stays on track to eliminate cervical cancer.
So, what do you think? Is Australia's progress towards eliminating cervical cancer sustainable with these declining vaccination and screening rates? Share your thoughts in the comments!
