Saxony-Anhalt takes top spot in vaccinations: HPV protection for children!

Saxony-Anhalt takes top spot in vaccinations: HPV protection for children!

Remarkable progress in health care is being celebrated in Saxony-Anhalt. The vaccination rate against human papilloma viruses (HPV) ranks first in Germany. According to Sachsen-Anhalt.de, 71.2% of girls under 15 and 49.9% of boys in this age group are fully vaccinated. This is an important sign because HP viruses are widespread and can pose a serious health threat to those who, in the worst case, can lead to cervical cancer and cancer of the mouth and throat.

“We must continue to do everything we can to ensure the best possible vaccination protection,” emphasizes Health Minister Petra Grimm-Benne. In fact, around 8,000 new cases of cancer in Germany each year can be traced back to HPV infections. The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends the HPV vaccination for girls and boys from the age of nine - and this should ideally be done before the first sexual experiences.

Vaccination rates in a nationwide comparison

A look at the nationwide vaccination rates shows a worrying stagnation. According to Krankenkassenzentrale.de, only 49.5% of 15-year-old girls will be fully vaccinated against HPV in 2024, which is far behind the WHO target of 90%. For boys, the vaccination rate is only 30%, despite existing recommendations since 2018. Saxony-Anhalt stands out clearly here, with a vaccination rate for girls of 65.7% and an increase for boys from just 7% in 2019 to now 47%.

It cannot be overlooked that there are serious differences in some regions of Germany. While vaccination rates fluctuate between 26.5 and 27.4% in places like Offenbach am Main or Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, a completely different story emerges in Saxony-Anhalt: the districts of Börde and Jerichower Land top the list with over 75%.

Education and commitment are required

In principle, the need for intensive education is undisputed. The Saxony-Anhalt Cancer Society also emphasizes that too few children are vaccinated, even though a full vaccination not only protects against cancer, but can also be done from the age of nine. It is extremely important that parents and young people are comprehensively informed in order to further increase vaccination rates and prevent unnecessary illnesses.

Minister Grimm-Benne continues to emphasize the effectiveness of vaccinations in combating infectious diseases. The State Association for Health in Saxony-Anhalt has been supporting the implementation of health goals for some time and has launched numerous model projects to improve information and education. There remains hope that the topic of vaccination will continue to gain in importance among the population through such committed measures.

Overall, the situation in Saxony-Anhalt shows that it is possible to achieve a high vaccination rate if there is the will and cooperation of everyone involved. Education, commitment and preventative measures are the key to successfully fighting HPV and its consequences. This is the only way we can protect even more people and promote health in the future.