Since the introduction of Australia’s human papillomavirus vaccination program in 2007, doctors have seen a 61% drop in genital wart cases among young women, a new study says.
Researchers at the University of Sydney reviewed more than one million visits to the doctor between 2000 and 2012 by women between the ages of 15 and 27.
Prior to the vaccination program, the rate of visits for genital warts was 4.33 per 1,000 trips to the doctor. In 2008 and after, that dropped to 1.67 per 1,000 visits.
“There was also no significant decrease in other sexually transmitted infections over this period, which means that the decrease in genital warts was likely due to the vaccination program, not a change in the women’s behaviour,” lead author Christopher Harrison said in a press release.
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended in 2007 girls between the ages of nine and 26 be vaccinated against HPV.
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