The virus can cause six types of cancer, including cervical cancer, penile cancer, and throat cancer. Within the National Immunization Program children receive an invitation for the vaccination in the year they turn 10.
Girls have been offered the vaccination for some time, but it has only been available for boys since last year. In addition, the vaccination rate in the first years that children were invited remained around 50 percent. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) therefore wants to give young adults the opportunity to get vaccinated against the virus free of charge this year through a catch-up campaign. Normally, the vaccination, which consists of two injections, costs 350 to 400 euros outside the National Vaccination Programme.
In total, more than 176,000 young adults have already had an HPV shot this year, or have made an appointment. Last week the counter was still at about 160,000. The RIVM thinks that the number of appointments increased in recent days, partly because people who could not go to a GGD on Saturday have scheduled an injection.
There must be at least five months between the first and second vaccination. The vaccination is only free if it is completed this year.