News item | 13-10-2025 | 4:45 PM
The aim is to carry out all vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) within the National Vaccination Program with the so-called 9-valent HPV vaccine from the autumn of 2026. This vaccine not only protects against more variants of HPV that can cause cancer, but also against genital warts. State Secretary Judith Tielen (Youth, Prevention and Sport) announced the decision to switch to the new vaccine today in a letter to the House of Representatives. She is therefore following the advice of the Health Council.
Simply spectacular
State Secretary Tielen: “We had high expectations about the effects of HPV vaccination. But what we are now seeing in practice, I would actually call spectacular. In women who have been vaccinated, cervical cancer caused by HPV is 90% less common than in unvaccinated women and serious precursors of cervical cancer are 80% less common. That is of course very good news for the health of the whole population. many women. It’s great that there is a vaccine that works even better than what we have used so far. We don’t have to think about it, but just make use of it quickly.”
HPV vaccination very effective
HPV is a common and highly contagious virus that can lead to cervical cancer, other cancers and genital warts. Vaccination against HPV has been offered to children up to the age of 18 through the National Vaccination Program since 2010. At the request of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Health Council has assessed the effectiveness of the vaccination program and whether adjustments are necessary. The conclusion is that vaccination against HPV is very effective in preventing HPV infections and cervical cancer or its precursors.