The Cochrane reviews on HPV vaccines - Part 1

The vaccines’ effects on the community

It may have slipped readers’ attention, but Cochrane has just published two long-awaited reviews on the HPV vaccines, based both on their effects in the community and on fragments of randomised trials used for registration and marketing of the products.

We looked at the content for a variety of reasons, which will become apparent in this two-part series. The bottom line is simple: they are safe and effective.

Let’s then celebrate another batch of safe and effective certifications, this time from Cochrane. Great!

We start with the review on the Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV‐related disease and harms from vaccination.

To reach a conclusion (or try to), the authors included 225 observational studies. Of these, only 20 reported on cervical cancer, eight on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and two studies reported on all‐cause mortality.

Out of the 20 examining cervical cancer, 16 (80%) were found to be at critical or serious risk of bias…