The incidence of cervical cancer among young women in Denmark has dropped dramatically following the introduction of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, according to a new study. For women under 30, there are now three new cases per 100,000 women each year, which meets the World Health Organization’s (WHO) target of fewer than four annual cases to eliminate the disease by 2100.

Elsebeth Lynge, an emeritus professor of epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen, describes the efforts against cervical cancer as a success story. Since the HPV vaccine was included in the childhood vaccination program in 2009, the incidence of the disease has significantly decreased. While Denmark previously had a high number of cases, the current incidence is now lower than that of both Norway and Sweden.

When considering all age groups combined, the incidence of cervical cancer has also decreased, although not as dramatically as among young women. Today, the number of new cases stands at 10 per 100,000 women, compared to 14 women in the period between 2009 and 2011. The HPV vaccine, which prevents several types of cancer, including cervical and anal cancer, is provided to both girls and boys as part of the childhood vaccination program.

Despite the Danish Health Authority’s (Sundhedsstyrelsen) objective that 90 percent of all children should receive the HPV vaccine, this goal has not yet been fully realized. In 2023, 89 percent of girls who were offered the first dose received the vaccine, while 78 percent proceeded to receive the second dose. For boys, the numbers were 87 percent for the first dose and 75 percent for the second dose.