Australia records no cervical cancer cases in under-25 women
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 1
Australia records no cervical cancer cases in under-25 women
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 1
The 2021 milestone supports projections that Australia, now at 6.3 cases per 100,000 women, could eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035 or earlier.
Researchers credit the 2007 national HPV vaccination rollout and HPV-based screening introduced in 2017; girls' vaccination is just above 80%, and 85% of women in the key age group are screened.
Progress is uneven: Indigenous women have double the incidence and more than triple the death rate, with elimination projected 12 years later; Sweden, Rwanda and the UK are also pursuing elimination.
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Australia’s Historic Achievement: Zero Cervical Cancer Cases in Women Under 25 and the Road to 2035 Elimination
Overview
Australia's success in eliminating cervical cancer among women under 25 in 2021 stems from its national HPV vaccination program launched in 2007 and the 2017 shift to a more effective 5-yearly HPV screening with self-collection options. However, recent declines in vaccination and screening participation, worsened by pandemic disruptions and persistent barriers like cost and access, especially affect Indigenous women who have much lower screening rates and higher cancer incidence. To address this, Australia launched an Equity-Focused Elimination Strategy in 2021, expanding self-collection, community-led screening through Aboriginal health organizations, and outreach programs. This strategy aims to accelerate elimination for Indigenous women from 2047 to as early as 2036, ensuring progress benefits all Australians.