ANP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
This year, more than 2 million adolescents and young adults born between 1996 and 2003 will receive an invitation for a free vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is highly contagious and can cause cancer of the mouth and throat, penis, anus, vagina, lips and cervix.
Research shows that young adults are unfamiliar or unfamiliar with the virus and therefore do not recognize its dangers. Only one in five say the possibility of an HPV infection is likely, while four out of five actually become infected. A two-part vaccination protects against these types of cancer.
Incidentally, not all infections lead to cancer. About 80-90% of people are infected with HPV at least once in their life. They often don’t notice it, and the body usually clears the infection itself within 1 to 2 years. Sometimes this does not happen and then cancer can develop after 10-15 years
Recovery
In the Netherlands, children are offered vaccination the year they turn 10. In 2010 RIVM launched the HPV vaccination campaign and in 2022 boys too could be vaccinated for the first time. More than 1 million adolescents have now been vaccinated in the Netherlands.
A large group of teenagers and young adults have therefore never been vaccinated against the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended vaccinating this group as well. With this, WHO hopes to eradicate cervical cancer. This year, RIVM is giving them the opportunity to do it for free.
