The history of the HPV vaccine

HPV vaccination has been available since 2006 in the US, has been administered more than 270 million times globally, and has been proven to be safe and effective in countless studies. 1951- Henrietta Lacks’ (HeLa) cells collectedThis beloved wife and mother developed cervical cancer at age 30. After seeking treatment at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Dr. George Gey took a sample of her HeLa cells without her permission or knowledge to experiment on. While the origins of this immortal cell line were not known till the 1970s, Lacks’ legacy has had a profound impact on major scientific discoveries, including the creation of the polio vaccine and discovery of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.1983 - Scientists discovered that HPV causes cancer After centuries of misconceptions surrounding the causes of cervical cancer, Dr. Richard Shope hypothesized that viruses could be transmitted and cause different symptoms in animals. Thanks to this initial foundation and advances in DNA technology, German virologist Harald zur Hausen was able to show that HPV was a papillomavirus. This was the start to decades of innovations in combatting HPV and preventing cancer since doctors could finally start to work on effective treatments and vaccines with the cause of cervical cancer finally established. 1991 - Scientists developed the first HPV vaccine In the early years, Dr. Jian Zhou and Dr. Ian Frazer created “virus-like particles” that mimicked HPV. The vaccine is composed of these particles, which do not contain any of the DNA, and can’t cause an HPV infection or a cancer. The body produces the antibodies needed to fight the particles to generate immunity within the body. This then prepares the body to remove infection if it is ever exposed in the future.2001 - 2002 - Laura Koutsky shows proof of principle and then efficacy for the monovalent (HPV16) vaxThis trial proved evidence of protection, and paved the way for the development of HPV vaccines2006 - Gardasil (HPV4) licensed and approved for girls by US Food and Drug Administration2008 - Dr. Harald zur Hausen wins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Dr. zur Hausen eventually won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery that certain strains of HPV (namely HPV 16 and 18) could eventually cause cervical cancer, which led to the development of the HPV vaccine. 2009 - Gardasil (HPV4) approved for boys by US Food and Drug Administration The vaccine was licensed for use and was expanded to boys ages 9-26 for the prevention of genital warts.Cervarix (HPV16 and HPV18) approved for girls by US Food and Drug AdministrationThe GSK vaccine was approved for the prevention of cervical pre-cancers and cervical cancer associated with HPV types 16 and 18 in girls and young women. The vaccine was later pulled from the US market in 2016 following the success of Gardasil 9, but continues to be used abroad for HPV cancer prevention.2014 -Gardasil 9 (HPV 9) approved by US Food and Drug AdministrationGardasil 9 (HPV 9) approved by US Food and Drug Administration The second iteration of Gardasil offered protection from several low-risk, wart-causing HPV strains in addition to the high-risk cancer-causing HPV strains that were protected with HPV4. 2016 - US CDC shifts dosage guidelines for younger recipients The CDC altered guidance to recommend that individuals ages 11 and 12 receive 2 doses of vaccine at least 6 months apart rather than the previously recommended 3 doses. 2018 - US Food and Drug Administration approved expanded use of Gardasil 9The FDA expanded the vaccine’s approval to include females and males 27-45 years old.2019 - HPV vaccination rates soar By October 2019, 100 countries worldwide incorporated HPV vaccination into their regular vaccine schedule.2020 - US Food and Drug Administration approves expanded use of Gardasil 92030 - WHO hopes to meet milestones on path to eliminating cervical cancer After meeting the 90-70-90 targets through a global focus on vaccination, screening, and treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) hopes to eradicate vaccine-preventable cervical cancer within the next century. 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15; 70% of women initially screened with high-performance testing by age 35 and a secondary test at age 45; and 90% of pre-cancers treated and 90% of invasive cancers managed. - Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Click here: https://q.my.na/OVDTDid you know? LifetimeHPV vaccination is cancer prevention and offers protection today for a lifetime against HPV cancers.

The history of the HPV vaccine

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

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The history of the HPV vaccine

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-08

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