Free HPV vaccination: Schallmeiner warns against under-vaccination in boys!

Free HPV vaccination: Schallmeiner warns against under-vaccination in boys!

On the occasion of World HPV Day tomorrow, health policy voices in Austria are calling for the use of free vaccination offers. Ralph Schallmeiner, the Green Party's health spokesman, emphasizes that all young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 will have the opportunity to get the HPV vaccination free of charge by the end of 2025. “People in this age group can catch up on the HPV vaccination free of charge until December 31, 2025,” he explains, pointing to the enormous response from the population: the number of vaccinations in this age group has increased almost tenfold since the catch-up campaign was introduced. It is critical to share information about the vaccine because it can reduce the risk of HPV-related diseases by up to 90 percent. This particularly includes the risks of cancers that can affect men, such as mouth, throat or penile cancer, although Schallmeiner also appeals to parents of boys to take advantage of this health option.

Most important information about the HPV vaccination

The steady increase in vaccinations in Austria is promising: Since the introduction of free HPV vaccination for children and adolescents from their 9th to their 21st birthday in 2023, the number of vaccinations has doubled from 56,000 to around 106,000 per year. However, it should be noted that only around 50 percent of 14-year-olds and just five percent of young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 are fully vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) is aiming for a 90 percent vaccination rate for girls to nearly eradicate cervical cancer, a goal that countries like Australia are already successfully achieving. Schallmeiner emphasizes that the free provision of vaccinations is a central component in improving public health.

HPV can cause serious illness. According to data, it has been shown that the majority of people will become infected with HPV at least once during their lifetime. Many infections have no symptoms and heal on their own, but persistent infections can lead to genital warts or even cancer, especially due to the high-risk types HPV 16 and 18. Every year around 6,250 women and 1,600 men in Germany develop cancer caused by an HPV infection. Painful procedures to remove HPV-related precancerous lesions are often an unavoidable measure if the disease is not recognized in time. Therefore, education and motivation to vaccinate is particularly essential immun-info.de emphasized.