Boys will be invited for the HPV vaccination for the first time in 2022. According to the registry, more than 50 percent of boys have had their first HPV vaccination so far. For girls this is more than 60 percent. For girls born in 2006, participation has now increased to 75 percent.
Slightly lower than last year
This is evident from the provisional figures of RIVM from January 2023 on participation in the National Immunization Programme. Compared to last year, the figures seem slightly lower. However, how much lower cannot be determined exactly. Because of a new registration method, not all vaccinations can be counted.
BMR a DKTP
The provisional figures concern babies born in 2020 (BMR at the age of 2 years) and 2021 (DKTP at the age of 1 year). The proportion of babies that received an MMR vaccination or DKTP vaccination according to the RIVM registration is at least 89.5 percent and 92.9 percent respectively. In January 2022, the proportion of babies receiving an MMR or DKTP vaccination was 92.6 percent and 94.0 percent, respectively.
HPV vaccination
The HPV vaccine protects against various forms of cancer. In 2022, in addition to girls, boys were also invited for this vaccination for the first time in the year they turn 10 (young people born in 2012). In 2022, some of the 12 to 18-year-olds who have not yet been vaccinated against HPV will also receive an invitation to protect themselves against HPV cancer. This concerns young people born in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. Also in 2023, young people from several birth years will receive an invitation for the HPV vaccination. For more information see: More than two million HPV vaccination invitations in 2023.
The provisional participation in the first HPV vaccination registered with RIVM is at least 41 to 58 percent for boys and 62 to 75 percent for girls. In January 2022, among girls born in 2008, preliminary participation in the first HPV vaccination was 70 percent.
Vaccination data registered
The figures refer to the vaccinations that are fully registered. From 1 January 2022, parents and/or the young person themselves will be asked for permission for the exchange of vaccination data with personal data between Youth Health Care (JGZ) and RIVM. If no permission is given for this or if the permission is not registered correctly, RIVM will receive the vaccination data anonymously. This applies to 5 percent of all RVP vaccinations given in 2022.
Anonymous vaccination
An anonymous vaccination means that it is not known, for example, in which year the vaccinated person was born, whether it concerns a boy or girl, in which municipality he/she lives and what dose it concerns. These ‘anonymous’ vaccinations can therefore not be included in the participation figures. The participation registered with RIVM is therefore an underestimate of the actual participation and cannot be properly compared with previous years. This is especially true for the HPV numbers. The figures for babies concern children who were largely eligible for vaccination before 1 January 2022.
Confidence in vaccines has declined
The current numbers seem slightly lower than last year. For babies, we can say with more certainty that participation is really lower. This may be an effect of COVID-19. However, how much lower cannot be determined exactly. Particularly for the HPV figures, it is not clear to what extent the change is partly explained by the fact that it will no longer be possible to count all vaccinations from 2022 onwards. It is therefore difficult to assess whether there has been an actual change. European research shows that citizens’ confidence in vaccines has declined in several countries.
The fact that in the first year at least more than 50 percent of the boys has already had their first HPV vaccination is positive. For girls born in 2006, who also received an invitation in 2019, participation has now increased to 75 percent. This has never been this high before. It is important to maintain or further improve this vaccination rate.
In June, the annual report with the final figures on the vaccination coverage of the National Immunization Program will be published.
By: National Education Guide
