Imagine, for the first time ever, seeing an entire type of cancer vanish due to preventive measures. What was once considered a far-fetched fantasy has become a tangible objective today. This modest yet significant medical transformation is unfolding right now in Denmark. Renowned for its effective health care services and practical strategies, this Scandinavian nation aims to eliminate cervical cancer entirely by 2040.
A transparent and bold plan
The Danish approach appears straightforward yet highly efficient: widespread vaccinations coupled with routine screenings have yielded remarkable outcomes. By 2008, Denmark had integrated HPV vaccines into their national healthcare system to combat nearly all instances of cervical cancer. Then, in 2019, they extended this initiative to include boys, a move celebrated by medical experts for its “comprehensive and safeguarding principles.”
The outcome? Almost 89% of 12-year-old children are now receiving their initial dose. Furthermore, the nation boasts a screening participation rate envied by many others: approximately 60% of Danish females take part in these initiatives. This concerted effort is proving successful as the incidence of new cases keeps decreasing. In fact, Denmark is nearing a critical milestone where the occurrence drops below four instances for every 100,000 women—a level recognized by the World Health Organization as indicative of potential elimination of the disease.
The impact is colossal
Should Denmark rise to this challenge, it would mark the first instance in medical history where cancer is eliminated not via therapeutic intervention but through preventive measures. This would serve as a stark rebuke to the belief that cancer is an unavoidable fate and demonstrate that public health initiatives can genuinely alter our circumstances. Instead of enduring illness, we take action, predict risks, and safeguard ourselves.
Is France continuing to fall short?
In contrast, France is advancing slowly. Although HPV vaccinations are becoming more common in middle schools, just 48% of 12-year-olds have received them so far. Each year, cervical cancer impacts roughly 3,000 French women, resulting in over a thousand deaths.
A vaccine that isn't safe?
Currently, the World Health Organization, France’s national health authority, along with numerous specialists including pediatrician Robert Cohen concur that “the vaccine is safe.” The typical adverse reactions include pain at the injection spot, vasovagal responses (frequently linked to needle phobia), and occasionally reddening, swelling, or migraines. Nothing stranger than what we typically observe with most vaccines, we read.
Certain voices, like the one belonging to oncologist Véronique Chabernaud , are still advocating for prudence. As she stated, The long-term consequences remain to be seen, and we should not underestimate a vaccination given to children for a condition that typically emerges much later in their lives. In March 2019, a team of 15 health professionals They also openly voiced their disapproval of the extensive HPV vaccination initiative. Primarily, they were worried about the undue impact of the pharmaceutical sector in advocating for these vaccinations.
Denmark seems to be banking on trust, education, and a coherent public health policy. This is probably the key to its success: the collective conviction that we can live in a world where certain diseases no longer have a place.