HPV vaccination: current recommendations Statement of the Committee for Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Questions in the Alliance Child and Adolescent Health (Bundnis KJG)

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause a high number of benign and malignant tumors in women and men. Highly effective and safe vaccines have been available since 2006. Long-term studies are now available, which show a decrease in genital warts and cervical neoplasms. As of 2021, in Germany only 54% of 15-year-old girls and 25.5% of boys had received a complete series of vaccinations but there were significant regional differences. Factors influencing participation in vaccination are discussed and proposals for improvement are presented. Most important is to facilitate access to vaccinations for this age group and improve counseling offers on vaccination, e.g., in the setting of the screening examinations U11 and J1. The Committee recommends that further efforts should be made to markedly increase the overall vaccination rates against HPV. Vaccinations should preferably be offered to younger children from 9 years of age onwards. Factors leading to a low participation in vaccination at state and regional levels must be identified and addressed.