HPV Vaccination Campaign Concludes: Aiming to Eradicate Cervical Cancer in Sweden

262,000 individuals have been vaccinated against HPV in a campaign that lasted three and a half years. The campaign concludes on Monday, and project leader Joakim Dillner is pleased with the results.

"We will be able to eradicate cervical cancer in Sweden," he says.

The figure of 262,000 represents 64.4% of the target group of women born between 1994 and 1999. The goal was set at 70%, indicating there is still some way to go.

"We haven't achieved the goal of population immunity, but immunity will be common enough that the infection will drastically decrease. I estimate a 90% reduction," says Joakim Dillner, professor of infection epidemiology at Karolinska Institute and head of the project.

The campaign started in spring 2021 and offered free vaccines to people in the target group. It was extended by six months last winter after being far from reaching the goal.

Why the Goal Wasn't Met

At times, it has been challenging to reach out with the campaign, which, according to Joakim Dillner, contributes to not reaching the 70% goal.

"We should have realized from the start that we needed to invest in reaching out in multiple ways simultaneously, instead of trying one thing at a time. No single measure has been very effective; what is effective is doing everything at once."

Efforts included sending personal invitations by mail, campaigning on social media, and hosting events to encourage young people to get vaccinated.

"Perhaps No One Will Get Cancer"

Now the free campaign concludes, and a second phase begins. This phase will focus on gynecological screenings to measure the presence of the HPV virus. Children in grade 5 will also be vaccinated in schools.

Cervical cancer will hopefully soon be a thing of the past, believes Joakim Dillner.

"It will be very rare for any of these 262,000 individuals to get this type of cancer. Perhaps no one will."