HPV vaccine recipients may only need one smear test in their lives, expert says

According to a leading cancer prevention scientist, those who receive the vaccine may only need a single Pap test in their lives.

Prof Peter Sasieni, the academic director of King's Clinical Trials Unit, said that the screening programme could soon change due to the encouraging results from the new vaccine.

He told the radio station that it was exciting. The vaccine protects against even more types of the virus, and I think one screen would be enough over a lifetime.

Cancer Research UK wants people to come forward for screening.

There are more than 100 types of human papillomaviruses, and research suggests that nearly all cases of cancer are caused by them.

The vaccine should be given before a person becomes sexually active as the virus is spread by intimate skin-to-skin contact.

The neck of the womb is connected to the vagina and abnormal cells in the cervix can lead to cancer.

Two women in England die from the disease every day, it is the second most common cancer among women under the age of 35 in England.

Thousands of people have been prevented from developing the disease or pre-cancers because of the vaccine development.

The jabs are free only in England under the universal programme for under 25s, and the vaccines do not prevent all cases of the disease.