Researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research said the study showed that while the vaccine -- Cervarix -- provides effective protection against high-grade cervical precancerous lesions caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV, types 16 and 18, it also demonstrated additional protection against other strains of HPV that account for another 10 percent of cervical cancers.

"We have found ... this vaccine is extremely effective in the prevention of precancerous disease of the cervix due to infection with HPV types 16 and 18," said Dr. Rachel Skinner, a study co-author who headed the Perth arm of the research.

"However, we now have evidence Cervarix offers women broader protection by providing some protection against infections caused by HPV types 45 and 31," she added. "These types together with HPV types 16 and 18 account for 80 percent of cases of cervical cancer worldwide.

"Not only will vaccinated women potentially benefit from a high level of protection against cervical cancer, they will also benefit from a reduction in abnormal Pap smears."

The research is reported in the journal Lancet.