Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination successfully reduces the prevalence of vaccine-targeted genotypes in a young, vaccine-eligible-age sample of Australian females

Asvini K. Subasinghe https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6045-2728 A B H I , John D. Wark C D , Samuel Phillips A B , Alyssa Cornall A B E , Julia M. L. Brotherton F G and Suzanne M. Garland A B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research, Royal Women’s Hospital, 20 Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

B Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Infection and Immunity, Royal Women’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

C The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic. 3050, Australia.

D Bone and Mineral Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic. 3050, Australia.

E Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

F VCS Population Health, VCS Foundation, East Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia.

G Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia.

H Present address: Department of General Practice, Monash University, 1/270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, Vic. 3168, Australia.

I Corresponding author. Email: asvini.subasinghe@monash.edu

Sexual Health 17(6) 510-516 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20033
Submitted: 11 March 2020  Accepted: 26 October 2020   Published: 21 December 2020

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of genital tract vaccine-type human papillomavirus (HPV) is on the decline due to high vaccine uptake through the national HPV immunisation program in Australia. The aim of this study was to investigate HPV vaccine coverage and factors associated with HPV in a vaccine-eligible sample of young Australian females. Methods: Females aged 16–25 years were recruited into the Young Female Health Initiative study, a young women’s health study, via Facebook advertising from 2012 to 2017. Sexually active participants were asked to provide a self-collected vaginal swab for the detection of HPV DNA; positive samples were genotyped. Self-reported HPV vaccination status was confirmed by the National HPV Vaccination Program Register. Outcomes of the study were HPV acquisition and genotype, HPV vaccination status and factors associated with HPV. Results: Overall, 22.8% of samples (95% confidence interval (CI) 17.8–27.8%; n = 62/272) were positive for any HPV DNA, of which 19.1% (95% CI 14.4–23.8%; n = 52/272) were oncogenic types. HPV 16 was detected in three samples (1.1%; 95% CI –0.1%, 2.3%; two not HPV vaccinated and one vaccinated after sexual debut). Early sexual debut (<16 years) and multiple sexual partners were independently associated with an increased risk of any HPV. Conclusions: In a community sample of vaccine-eligible-age females with a high vaccine uptake, the prevalence of vaccine-related HPV genotypes is extremely low. Early sexual debut and multiple sexual partners are positively associated with HPV, underscoring the importance of vaccination at the routinely recommended age of 12–13 years for best vaccine impact.

Keywords: human papillomavirus (HPV), papillomavirus, public health, vaccines, women.


References

[1]  Forman D, de Martel C, Lacey CJ, Soerjomataram I, Lortet-Tieulent J, Bruni L, et al Global burden of human papillomavirus and related diseases. Vaccine 2012; 30 F12–23.
Global burden of human papillomavirus and related diseases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23199955PubMed |

[2]  Lu B, Kumar A, Castellsague X, Giuliano AR. Efficacy and safety of prophylactic vaccines against cervical HPV infection and diseases among women: a systematic review & meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2011; 11 13
Efficacy and safety of prophylactic vaccines against cervical HPV infection and diseases among women: a systematic review & meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21226933PubMed |

[3]  Garland SM, Kjaer SK, Muñoz N, Block SL, Brown DR, DiNubile MJ, et al Impact and effectiveness of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine: a systematic review of 10 years of real-world experience. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 63 519–27.
Impact and effectiveness of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine: a systematic review of 10 years of real-world experience.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27230391PubMed |

[4]  Arbyn M, Xu L, Simoens C, Martin-Hirsch PP. Prophylactic vaccination against human papillomaviruses to prevent cervical cancer and its precursors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; 5 CD009069
Prophylactic vaccination against human papillomaviruses to prevent cervical cancer and its precursors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29740819PubMed |

[5]  Machalek DA, Garland SM, Brotherton JML, Bateson D, McNamee K, Stewart M, et al Very low prevalence of vaccine human papillomavirus types among 18- to 35-year old Australian women 9 years following implementation of vaccination. J Infect Dis 2018; 217 1590–600.
Very low prevalence of vaccine human papillomavirus types among 18- to 35-year old Australian women 9 years following implementation of vaccination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29425358PubMed |

[6]  Brotherton JM, Winch KL, Bicknell L, Chappell G, Saville M. HPV vaccine coverage is increasing in Australia. Med J Aust 2017; 206 262
HPV vaccine coverage is increasing in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28359009PubMed |

[7]  Chow EPF, Danielewski JA, Fehler G, Tabrizi SN, Law MG, Bradshaw CS, et al Human papillomavirus in young women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection 7 years after the Australian human papillomavirus vaccination programme: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15 1314–23.
Human papillomavirus in young women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection 7 years after the Australian human papillomavirus vaccination programme: a cross-sectional study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[8]  Fenner Y, Garland SM, Moore EE, Jayasinghe Y, Fletcher A, Tabrizi SN, et al Web-based recruiting for health research using a social networking site: an exploratory study. J Med Internet Res 2012; 14 e20
Web-based recruiting for health research using a social networking site: an exploratory study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22297093PubMed |

[9]  National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, Universities Australia. National statement on ethical conduct in human research 2007 (updated May 2015). 2015. Available online at: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/national-statement-ethical-conduct-human-research [verified 26 November 2020].

[10]  Osborne SL, Tabrizi SN, Brotherton JM, Cornall AM, Wark JD, Wrede CD, et al Assessing genital human papillomavirus genoprevalence in young Australian women following the introduction of a national vaccination program. Vaccine 2015; 33 201–8.
Assessing genital human papillomavirus genoprevalence in young Australian women following the introduction of a national vaccination program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25444787PubMed |

[11]  International Agency for Research on Cancer. Agents classified by the IARC monographs, volumes 1–127. 2020. Available online at: https://monographs.iarc.fr/agents-classified-by-the-iarc/ [verified 26 November 2020].

[12]  Stevens MP, Garland SM, Tabrizi SN. Development and validation of a real-time PCR assay specifically detecting human papillomavirus 52 using the Roche LightCycler 480 system. J Virol Methods 2008; 147 290–6.
Development and validation of a real-time PCR assay specifically detecting human papillomavirus 52 using the Roche LightCycler 480 system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17996311PubMed |

[13]  Department of Health. NHMRC screening to prevent cervical cancer: guidelines for the management of asymptomatic women with screen-detected abnormalities. 2005. Available online at: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170816100344/https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/wh39 [verified 4 November 2019].

[14]  Garland SM, Brotherton JML, Condon JR, McIntyre PB, Stevens MP, Smith DW, et al Human papillomavirus prevalence among indigenous and non-indigenous Australian women prior to a national HPV vaccination program. BMC Med 2011; 9 104
Human papillomavirus prevalence among indigenous and non-indigenous Australian women prior to a national HPV vaccination program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21910918PubMed |

[15]  Brotherton JML, Condon JR, McIntyre PB, Tabrizi SN, Malloy M, Garland SM. Human papillomavirus prevalence to age 60 years among Australian women prevaccination. Sex Health 2015; 12 353–9.
Human papillomavirus prevalence to age 60 years among Australian women prevaccination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[16]  Tabrizi SN, Brotherton JML, Stevens MP, Condon JR, McIntyre P, Smith D, et al HPV genotype prevalence in Australian women undergoing routine cervical screening by cytology status prior to implementation of an HPV vaccination program. J Clin Virol 2014; 60 250–6.
HPV genotype prevalence in Australian women undergoing routine cervical screening by cytology status prior to implementation of an HPV vaccination program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24854516PubMed |

[17]  Garland SM, Cornall AM, Brotherton JML, Wark JD, Malloy MJ, Tabrizi SN. Final analysis of a study assessing genital human papillomavirus genoprevalence in young Australian women, following eight years of a national vaccination program. Vaccine 2018; 36 3221–30.
Final analysis of a study assessing genital human papillomavirus genoprevalence in young Australian women, following eight years of a national vaccination program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29724506PubMed |

[18]  Tabrizi SN, Brotherton JML, Kaldor JM, Skinner SR, Liu B, Bateson D, et al Assessment of herd immunity and cross-protection after a human papillomavirus vaccination programme in Australia: a repeat cross-sectional study. Lancet Infect Dis 2014; 14 958–66.
Assessment of herd immunity and cross-protection after a human papillomavirus vaccination programme in Australia: a repeat cross-sectional study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25107680PubMed |

[19]  Drolet M, Bénard E, Boily MC, Ali H, Baandrup L, Bauer H, et al Population-level impact and herd effects following human papillomavirus vaccination programmes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15 565–80.
Population-level impact and herd effects following human papillomavirus vaccination programmes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25744474PubMed |

[20]  Markowitz LE, Gee J, Chesson H, Stokley S. Ten years of human papillomavirus vaccination in the United States. Acad Pediatr 2018; 18 S3–10.
Ten years of human papillomavirus vaccination in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29502635PubMed |

[21]  Merckx M, Vanden Broeck D, Benoy I, Depuydt C, Weyers S, Arbyn M. Early effects of human papillomavirus vaccination in Belgium. Eur J Cancer Prev 2015; 24 340–2.
Early effects of human papillomavirus vaccination in Belgium.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25117724PubMed |

[22]  Carozzi F, Puliti D, Ocello C, Anastasio PS, Moliterni EA, Perinetti E, et al Monitoring vaccine and non-vaccine HPV type prevalence in the post-vaccination era in women living in the Basilicata region, Italy. BMC Infect Dis 2018; 18 38
Monitoring vaccine and non-vaccine HPV type prevalence in the post-vaccination era in women living in the Basilicata region, Italy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29334901PubMed |

[23]  Heard I, Tondeur L, Arowas L, Demazoin M, Falguieres M, Parent Du Chatelet I. Effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccination on prevalence of vaccine genotypes in young sexually active women in France. J Infect Dis 2017; 215 757–63.
| 28011911PubMed |

[24]  Subasinghe AK, Nguyen M, Wark JD, Tabrizi SN, Garland SM. Targeted Facebook advertising is a novel and effective method of recruiting participants into a human papillomavirus vaccine effectiveness study. JMIR Res Protoc 2016; 5 e154
Targeted Facebook advertising is a novel and effective method of recruiting participants into a human papillomavirus vaccine effectiveness study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27450586PubMed |

[25]  Mariani L, Vici P, Suligoi B, Checcucci-Lisi G, Drury R. Early direct and indirect impact of quadrivalent HPV (4HPV) vaccine on genital warts: a systematic review. Adv Ther 2015; 32 10–30.
Early direct and indirect impact of quadrivalent HPV (4HPV) vaccine on genital warts: a systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25620536PubMed |

[26]  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Cervical screening in Australia 2019. Canberra: AIHW; 2019.