Impact of multi-cohort HPV vaccination on cervical cancer in women below 30 years of age: Lessons learned from the Scandinavian countries

Abstract

In Scandinavia, HPV vaccination programs started in 2007/8; in Sweden and Denmark with HPV vaccination offered to multiple cohorts of young girls, while in Norway offered to a single cohort only. Interestingly, in Sweden and Denmark, cervical cancer incidence in young women decreased markedly from 2017/2018, while in Norway a steady increase was seen until 2020. As the three countries are very similar in other factors important for cervical cancer incidence rates like cervical cancer screening, the observed difference is most likely due to differences in the multi-cohort vaccination.