A single dose of quadrivalent HPV vaccine is highly effective against HPV genotypes 16 and 18 detection in young pregnant women eight years following vaccination: an retrospective cohort study in Fiji

Rita Reyburn; Evelyn Tuivaga; Tupou Ratu; Seruwaia Young; Suzanne M Garland; Gerald Murray; Alyssa Cornall; Sepehr Tabrizi; Cattram D Nguyen; Kylie Jenkins; Lisi Tikoduadua; Joseph Kado; Mike Kama; Eric Rafai; Rachel Devi; Kim Mulholland; James Fong; Fiona M Russell

doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100798

A single dose of quadrivalent HPV vaccine is highly effective against HPV genotypes 16 and 18 detection in young pregnant women eight years following vaccination: an retrospective cohort study in Fiji

Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023 Jun 14:37:100798. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100798. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Rita Reyburn¹, Evelyn Tuivaga², Tupou Ratu², Seruwaia Young², Suzanne M Garland^{1

3

4}, Gerald Murray^{1

3

4}, Alyssa Cornall^{1

3}, Sepehr Tabrizi³, Cattram D Nguyen^{1

5}, Kylie Jenkins¹, Lisi Tikoduadua², Joseph Kado², Mike Kama², Eric Rafai², Rachel Devi², Kim Mulholland^{1

6}, James Fong², Fiona M Russell^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji.
³ Western Pacific Regional HPV LabNet Reference Laboratory, Centre for Women's Infectious Diseases Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
⁵ Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
⁷ Centre for International Child Health Department, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Background: In 2008/9, Fiji vaccinated >30,000 girls aged 9-12 years with the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (4vHPV) vaccine coverage for at least one dose was >60% (one dose only was 14%, two dose only was 13%, three doses was 35%). We calculated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of one, two and three doses of 4vHPV against oncogenic HPV genotypes 16/18, eight years following vaccination.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken (2015-2019) in pregnant women ≤23 years old, eligible to receive 4vHPV in 2008/9, with confirmed vaccination status. The study was restricted to pregnant women due to the cultural sensitivity of asking about sexual behavior in Fiji. For each participant a clinician collected a questionnaire, vaginal swab and genital warts examination, a median eight (range 6-11) years post vaccination. HPV DNA was detected by molecular methods. Adjusted VE (aVE) against the detection of vaccine HPV genotypes (16/18), the comparison group of non-vaccine genotypes (31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/66/68), and genital warts were calculated. Covariates included in the adjusted model were: age, ethnicity and smoking, according to univariate association with any HPV detection.

Findings: Among 822 participants the prevalence of HPV 16/18 in the unvaccinated, one, two and three-dose groups were 13.3% (50/376), 2.5% (4/158), 0% (0/99) and 1.6% (3/189), respectively; and for the non-vaccine high-risk genotypes, the detection rate was similar across dosage groups (33.2%-40.4%, p = 0.321). The aVE against HPV 16/18 for one, two and three doses were 81% (95% CI; 48-93%), 100% (95% CI; 100-100%), and 89% (95% CI; 64-96%), respectively. Prevalence of HPV 16/18 was lower among women with longer time since vaccination.

Interpretations: A single dose 4vHPV vaccine is highly effective against HPV genotypes 16 and 18 eight years following vaccination. Our results provide the longest duration of protection for reduced dose 4vHPV schedule in a low- or middle-income country in the Western Pacific region.

Funding: This study was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government and Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP). FHSSP is implemented by Abt JTA on behalf of the Australian Government.

Keywords: HPV genotypes 16 and 18; HPV vaccine; Single dose; Vaccine effectiveness.