HPV Vaccination Rates in Germany Remain Below Pre-Pandemic Levels Despite Recent Increases

Efforts to boost HPV immunization in Germany show progress, but vaccination rates lag significantly behind international targets and pre-COVID benchmarks.

HPV vaccination rates in Germany are recovering after a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but remain well below pre-pandemic levels in many regions.
Recent data shows a 25% increase in HPV first-dose vaccinations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 2023 compared to the previous year, though rates are still 50% lower than before the pandemic.
Nationally, only 55% of 15-year-old girls and 34% of boys are fully vaccinated against HPV, falling short of the WHO's 2030 target of a 90% vaccination rate for 15-year-old girls in the EU.
Experts attribute the low vaccination rates to insufficient public awareness, missed opportunities during routine healthcare visits, and a lack of organized school-based immunization programs.
HPV is linked to multiple types of cancer, including cervical, anal, and throat cancers, with approximately 7,850 new cases annually in Germany attributed to HPV-related infections.