High uptake of the HPV vaccine has led to a "dramatic reduction" in cervical pre-cancer, new research has found.

Researchers in Scotland have investigated the impact of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine given to schoolgirls in the country.

Similar to the situation in Ireland, young girls in Scotland are entitled to the HPV vaccine for free.

In the Scottish case, it is offered to girls between 11 and 18.

The uptake rate in Scotland is currently around 90%, while cervical cancer cases in women aged 20-24 have reduced by 69% since 2012.

The study - which assessed data from around 140,000 women - found that the vaccine has almost "wiped out" all cases of cervical pre-cancer in young women.

According to the authors, there's been a reduction of up to 90% of cervical disease abnormalities (or pre-cancerous cells).

'Exceeded expectations'

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Senior Research Fellow Dr Kevin Pollock was one of the lead researchers.

He said the impact of the vaccine has "exceeded expectations".

He explained: "It is associated with near elimination of both low and high grade cervical disease in young Scottish women eight years after the vaccine programme started.

"We thought that when we first started the programme, the vaccine would knock out the two types which cause 80% of pre-cancerous conditions

"But because it knocks out these other three types, it is nearer 90% of cervical pre-cancer in Scotland."

Dr Pollock said the message is that the vaccine works.

He added: "As long as the high uptake continues, the virus has got nowhere to go and it is being eliminated."

Here in Ireland, the HSE recently announced that there's been a 20% rise in the uptake rate of the HPV vaccine in just over two years - with 70% of girls now getting the jab.

Campaigner Laura Brennan - who died last month - was widely praised for her work in advocating for the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is currently offered to all girls when they're in first year of secondary school.