ZAGREB, 27 July (Hina) - Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in Croatia continues to show a positive trend. According to the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), in 2024 at least one dose of the vaccine was received by 54.8% of girls and 38.9% of boys by their 15th birthday.
In 2023, vaccination coverage was 51.1% for girls and 34.3% for boys, meaning there was an increase of 3.7 percentage points for girls and 4.6 percentage points for boys in just one year.
HZJZ experts see this progress as a sign that awareness of the importance of HPV vaccination is growing among parents, students, and school healthcare teams.
730% increase
Croatia introduced its national HPV vaccination programme in 2016, and in the first year, only 2,070 girls and 511 boys were vaccinated. By 2024, these numbers had grown to 10,874 girls and 8,025 boys - a staggering 730% increase in just eight years, according to the HZJZ.
A significant shift has also occurred in balancing the gender ratio. In 2016, there was one vaccinated boy for every four vaccinated girls.
By 2024, this ratio had improved to three boys for every four girls. School doctors report that in some classrooms, the number of vaccinated boys already surpasses that of girls - confirming increasing interest and motivation among students and their families.
A comparison of regional data still shows noticeable differences. The highest vaccination rates were recorded in Krapina-Zagorje County, with 76.4% of girls and 60.7% of boys vaccinated, and Varaždin County, where 75.6% of girls and 59.6% of boys received at least one dose.
On the other hand, the lowest coverage was seen in Lika-Senj County (16.6% of girls, 11.4% of boys) and Dubrovnik-Neretva County (25.3% of girls, 15.1% of boys).
HPV is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections. Most infected individuals show no symptoms, but some high-risk types of the virus can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vagina, mouth, and throat. In Croatia, approximately 300 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, and nearly 100 women die from the disease each year.
Vaccination before the start of sexual activity offers the best protection. Croatia uses a nine-valent vaccine that covers the nine most dangerous HPV types and is recommended for students from 5th to 8th grade. The vaccine is free and voluntary.
For a long time, HPV vaccination was thought to be intended only for girls. However, the inclusion of boys is now increasingly accepted, bringing multiple benefits. Boys are also at risk of HPV-related diseases, including anal, penile, and throat cancers. Vaccinating boys helps reduce the virus's circulation in the population and contributes to herd immunity.
School doctors note that more parents of boys are seeking information about the vaccine, and more boys are expressing interest in getting vaccinated on their own initiative.
