Sting against HPV viruses

Free vaccination for one million euros

The HPV vaccination is to be administered free of charge to everyone under the age of 30 by the end of 2025.

(Bild: VOISIN)

Until now, the only vaccination against cancer was an expensive affair for adults: protection against HPV viruses - which can cause cervical cancer and other cancers of the genitals or throat - cost around 650 euros for over-21s. Now the vaccination is to become free for everyone up to the age of 30 nationwide.

The plan is to offer the free vaccination campaign from June until the end of 2025. Health officer Christine Haberlander (ÖVP) expects around 60,000 additional HPV vaccine doses and costs of one million euros for Upper Austria during this period. In comparison: around 17,000 doses were used in 2023.

Higher vaccination coverage rate hoped for
The expansion of free HPV protection is intended to increase the vaccination coverage rate. However, skepticism about the needle is particularly high in Upper Austria of all places, as a study by the Gallup research institute shows.

While 27 percent of respondents across Austria are somewhat or completely opposed to vaccinations, the figure in Upper Austria and Salzburg is 39 percent.

The differences between the federal states or according to party sympathies are presumably related to the politicization of the issue during the pandemic.

Andrea Fronaschütz, Gallup-Institut

For Gallup boss Andrea Fronaschütz, the "differences between the federal states are probably related to the politicization of the issue during the pandemic".

Scepticism towards the pharmaceutical industry
The most common reason given for rejection is that vaccines primarily serve pharmaceutical companies and their profits (84%), followed by fear of side effects (79%). However, a large majority (almost three quarters across Austria) are in favor of vaccinations.