London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

A study published in the journal Lancet Oncology which investigated the efficacy of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine using different numbers of doses has reported that similar levels of protection were given by one, two or three doses of the vaccine. Two doses of the HPV vaccine are currently given to adolescent girls in the UK with the aim of protecting against cervical cancer; this new study suggests equal protection could be enforced by a one-dose regimen.

Commenting on this, Dr Mark Jit, Senior Lecturer in Vaccine Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: "Many countries including the UK recently switched from giving three doses to giving two doses of the HPV vaccine to girls up to 14 years old. This followed findings from Costa Rica and other studies that two doses of vaccine may be enough to protect women from cervical cancer. The latest news that even one dose may be protective holds promise, although further studies are needed before we will be ready to consider a one dose schedule."