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A MASS vaccination programme for the human papillomavirus (HPV) could cut the total number of deaths and infections among women here by 326,887 over 100 years, a recent study by Singapore researchers has found.
This would mean a 73 per cent drop in HPV cases, along with a 50 per cent reduction in the number of deaths that would otherwise occur as a result of cervical cancer, resulting in more than 2,000 lives saved.
The study, done using computer models, was presented at the International Papillomavirus Conference held in Montreal, Canada, earlier this month.
The first vaccine against the most prevalent strains of HPV, the leading cause of cervical cancer, has been available here since 2006, while a second was introduced a year later.
The recommended mass-vaccination programme consists of routine vaccination for girls at age 12 and a catch-up vaccination before they turn 24, along with regular screening for HPV infection through a pap smear.
Assuming that all women here take part in the programme, cases of genital warts among them would be reduced by more than 80 per cent. Its incidence among men, who would benefit from their partners’ vaccination, would also drop by almost 70 per cent.
A second Singapore study, led by Associate Professor Jeffrey Low of the National University Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department, estimated that, in the next 25 years alone, 60,000 people here may suffer from diseases caused by HPV infections, which would cost a whopping $83 million to treat.
The two-pronged strategy of screening and vaccination would be more cost effective than screening alone, he said.
The second study was also presented at the conference.
Associate Professor Tay Sun Kuie, a senior consultant with Singapore General Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology department, who led the first study, said that a screening and vaccination programme would lead
to significant cost savings by preventing cases of cervical cancer.
The study estimated that treatment for each case of cervical cancer diagnosed here costs, on average, more than $10,000.
Despite the advantages of the vaccine, people are not getting it as they do not see the long-term benefits, Prof Tay said.
“Teenagers and young people – the group whom we are targeting as the vaccine would be most effective on them – usually do not worry about their health. They might not see the need of spending a few hundred dollars
to get vaccinated when they do not feel ill,” he said.
Fortunately, awareness of the vaccine’s benefits has been growing, and he now sees more people getting the jab, he noted.
Australia, Britain and Malaysia have started national programmes for secondary school girls in the last three years. But in Britain, 1,300 girls reportedly experienced pain, nausea, weakness, fever, dizziness and numbness after being vaccinated.
Earlier this year, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that the ministry’s Expert Committee on Immunisation called for young girls to be vaccinated against HPV, but has not recommended making it compulsory.
The Health Ministry said it is finalising its recommendation and will release details later.
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