Free HPV Vaccination Only Available Until June for Young Adults

"Since two partial vaccinations are necessary at an interval of at least six months, the first vaccination must take place in the first half of the year to receive both vaccinations for free," the Medical Association (ÖÄK) pointed out on Tuesday. The vaccination provides very good protection against cervical cancer, genital tumors, throat cancer, and genital warts.

"The HPV vaccination has an impressive performance, it provides excellent protection against cancer - yet it is not as prominent in Austria as it should be," explained Rudolf Schmitzberger, head of the ÖÄK vaccination department, in a statement on World HPV Day. In countries where the HPV vaccination was introduced and promoted on a broad basis earlier, the positive effects have been evident for years. In Australia, for example, the incidence of cervical cancer has been reduced by 87 percent. Current figures from Germany also show that the incidence of the so-called cervical carcinoma has been declining since 2010.

Appeal to Young Adults: Use Free HPV Vaccination Until June

Since 2014, children between the ages of nine and eleven can be vaccinated for free. For years, Austria lamented 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 ninth to the 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.

International HPV Day: Appeal Also to Politics

On the occasion of International HPV Day, the Federal Youth Representation (BJV), the association HPV Vaccination Now!, and the ÖH pointed out that the free HPV vaccination for everyone under 30 must remain permanently in the vaccination program. "The HPV vaccination is the only vaccination that can protect against cancer. This important preventive service must not fail due to costs," emphasized BJV Chairwoman Rihab Toumi. ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS have agreed in their government program presented last week that all vaccinations recommended in the national vaccination program should be offered for free - however, "according to scientific prioritization".

(APA/Red)

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