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General
Saturday, March 4 is HPV Awareness Day. On this special day, Hecht GGD Hollands Midden will open the HPV vaccination location in the ECC in Leiden – once only on a Saturday. Here young men and women aged 19 to 27 can get an HPV vaccination on HPV Awareness Day. This can be done by appointment via www.hpvafspraak.nl.
On HPV Awareness Day, worldwide attention is drawn to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is very contagious; eight out of ten people become infected with the virus unnoticed in their lives. HPV is transmitted through the hands, skin, and mouth during intimate contact. An HPV infection can lead to cancer of the mouth and throat, anus, penis, vagina, labia and cervix later in life. HPV vaccination protects against these 6 types of cancer. Hecht GGD Hollands Midden provides the HPV vaccination for teenagers up to and including 18 years old and only this year also for 19 to 27 year olds.
HPV vaccination 19 to 27 year olds
Only in 2023 will young adults born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2003 have the opportunity to be vaccinated against HPV free of charge. For optimal protection, two injections are required with six months or more in between. To be able to get both shots for free this year, it is important to schedule the first shot before July 1 via www.hpvafspraak.nl. Vaccination is also useful for those who are already sexually active. A vaccination protects against future infections.
HPV vaccination teens
On March 6, Hecht GGD Hollands Midden will also start a catch-up vaccination round for teenagers born in 2005, 2007, 2010 or 2011 who have not yet had the HPV shots. They will automatically receive an invitation letter for this.