Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been estimated to cause 270 000 deaths worldwide annually from cervical cancer and approximately 80% of these occur in resource-poor countries. In South Africa, cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy among women, with the highest rate among black women aged 66 69 years. With the development of prophylactic HPV vaccines there are prospects of significant reduction in morbidity and mortality due to HPV infection and its complications.