Measuring the effects of HPV16/18 vaccination on HPV positivity and anogenital warts

In men and women, infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) can lead to cancer, cervical cancer being the most common. Since 2009, HPV vaccination has been offered to girls in the Netherlands. The vaccine that is used is directed against the two HPV types that cause the most cancer; types 16 and 18. This dissertation investigated the effects of the HPV vaccination programme in the Netherlands. This research concluded that HPV vaccination is very effective in protecting against HPV infection. Not only does the vaccine protect well against types 16 and 18, there is also protection against other HPV types that can cause cancer. In addition, the results indicate that herd protection is realized, which also reduces the incidence of HPV in unvaccinated patients by importing vaccination.