HPV Vaccines Not Cost Effective for Some

For adults ages 27 to 45, vaccinating against human papillomavirus (HPV) is costlier and less effective than vaccinating younger people to prevent HPV-related cancers (Ann Intern Med 2024 Nov 26 [Epub ahead of print]). Researchers found that 7,650 people ages 27 to 45 would need to be vaccinated to prevent one HPV-related cancer, compared with 223 people ages 9 to 26. Women ages 27 to 45 who recently separated from a long-term sexual partner and have a higher number of lifetime partners, who are at higher risk of developing new HPV infections, stand to benefit from HPV vaccination more than other subgroups in the age range. The potential additional benefits of vaccination for people ages 27 to 45 are limited because vaccination of people ages 26 and younger has led to the emergence of herd immunity, according to the researchers.