Free HPV Vaccination: Health Mobil Tours Through Vienna

Throughout their lives, 85 to 90 percent of all women and men become infected with HPV, the human papillomaviruses. Three women die each week in this country from HPV-related cancer, as the Austrian Society of the Golden Cross (ÖGGK) announced on Friday.

Free HPV vaccination in Vienna for everyone up to their 30th birthday

To counteract this, the Health Mobile of the ÖGGK will go on tour across the country starting April 2nd, offering a free HPV vaccination to everyone up to their 30th birthday without the need for an appointment.

The first stop for the mobile health center will be at the Erste Campus in Vienna. The vaccination team from the City of Vienna's health service, which also provides the vaccine, will also be present. Injections will be administered there from 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM in the coming week - interested parties should bring their vaccination card, e-card, and a photo ID. The initiative is led by the ÖGGK and supported by numerous organizations.

Austria with a weak vaccination rate

Since 2014, children between the ages of nine and eleven can be vaccinated for free. For years, Austria has been criticized for a low HPV vaccination rate, with only about 50 percent of those eligible participating in the free preventive measure. This has partially changed since February 1, 2023. From this date, the HPV vaccination became free for children, adolescents, and young adults from the age of nine up to their 21st birthday, and in July 2024, the catch-up offer was extended to those aged 21 to 30. Since then, according to the Ministry of Health, the number of vaccinations administered in the age group between 21 and 30 has almost tenfold increased.

Human papillomaviruses are transmitted through direct mucosal contact, such as during sexual contact or, in rare cases, during childbirth from mother to child. There is a risk of infection as long as a (chronic) infection is present. Condoms do not provide reliable protection against HPV infection, as explained by the Ministry of Health.

More information about the locations and dates of the ÖGGK vaccination campaigns can be found online

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.