HPV is more common than many people realise
Understanding HPV, making informed decisions about vaccination and participating in recommended screening programmes remain among the most effective ways to reduce the burden of HPV-related disease.
When people hear the term human papillomavirus (HPV), many immediately think of cervical cancer. While HPV is the leading cause of almost all cervical cancer cases, the virus is far more common and can affect both women and men.
South Africa's annual HPV vaccination campaign, which runs from August 3 to September 28, provides an opportunity to raise awareness not only about vaccination, but also about a virus that most sexually active people will be exposed to at some point in their lives.
A common virus with serious consequences
HPV is not a single virus but a group of more than 200 related viruses. Most HPV infections clear naturally without causing any health problems. However, certain high-risk types can persist in the body and, over time, lead to cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), persistent infection with high-risk HPV types causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. It is also linked to cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva and parts of the throat, including the back of the tongue and tonsils.
Because HPV often causes no symptoms, many people are unaware they have been infected and may unknowingly pass the virus on to others.
Vaccination before exposure
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers is vaccination before exposure to the virus. South Africa introduced the HPV vaccine into its public school health programme in 2014, offering it to eligible girls in primary school. In recent years, many countries have also expanded vaccination programmes to include boys, recognising that HPV affects both sexes and that wider vaccination helps reduce the spread of the virus throughout the population.
The vaccine does not treat an existing HPV infection, which is why it is recommended before young people become sexually active. Clinical studies have shown that HPV vaccination significantly reduces infections caused by the virus types responsible for most cervical cancers.
Vaccination, however, does not eliminate the need for routine cervical cancer screening. Regular Pap smears or HPV testing remain important because no vaccine protects against every HPV type that can cause disease.
Prevention goes beyond the vaccine
Although vaccination is a powerful preventive tool, it forms part of a broader approach to reducing HPV-related disease. Routine screening, safer sexual practices and greater public awareness all contribute to earlier detection and better health outcomes.
The WHO launched a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, with targets that include vaccinating the majority of girls against HPV, ensuring women have access to cervical screening and providing timely treatment for those diagnosed with precancerous changes or cancer.
As South Africa's HPV vaccination campaign gets underway, it serves as a reminder that preventing cancer often begins long before symptoms appear. Understanding HPV, making informed decisions about vaccination and participating in recommended screening programmes remain among the most effective ways to reduce the burden of HPV-related disease.
Liz Thorne
Mariana Balt
Naomi Roebert
Anchen Coetzee
