Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Around 80% of all sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Infection with high-risk HPV types is necessary for developing cervical cancer. Each year, approximately 375 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and every year about 100 women die of cervical cancer. In Denmark, cervical cancer ranks as the tenth most common female cancer and is the third most common cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years. HPV infection is also associated with genital warts, and head, neck, penile and anal cancer. In Denmark, HPV vaccination is freely available for all 12 year-old girls through the Danish National Childhood Immunization Programme in order to prevent HPV-related diseases. Knowledge on several aspects of the vaccine is important for success, including uptake, effectiveness and consequences.
Purpose
The overall aim is to provide further knowledge on several aspects of the HPV vaccine: uptake, effectiveness and consequences.
Method
The study population consists of all girls and boys born in 1985-2008 (the birth cohort who has been offered the HPV vaccine). In addition, information is obtained from parents and siblings of this birth cohort. The data material consists of register data and cross-sectional data from the questionnaire survey The Danish Youth Study from 2014 and 2019.
Project period
January 2018 to December 2021.
Collaboration and funding
The project is funded by the Danish Cancer Society.