HPV atlas sets out six proposals to close vaccination gaps
DKFZ and German Cancer Aid summarise data on HPV-related cancers. The measures they describe are recommendations, not a new vaccination service.
On 15 October 2026, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Aid published the first Germany HPV Atlas. Human papillomaviruses can cause cervical cancer and cancers of the mouth and throat, anus, penis, vulva and vagina, among others. For 2021, the Robert Koch Institute estimates about 11,000 such new cases, roughly 7,600 in women and 3,000 in men.
The atlas points to studies with more than 15 years of follow-up in which infections, precancerous changes and cervical cancer fell markedly among vaccinated people. In Germany in 2024, 55 percent of 15-year-old girls and 36 percent of boys the same age were fully vaccinated against HPV. Vaccination rates differ by region, in some cases by more than 20 percentage points.
Six proposals are intended to narrow the gap: a communication strategy, digital invitations and reminders, linking vaccination to the U10, U11 and J1 health checks, easier access, a national prevention strategy and a digital vaccination register. These are recommendations from the publishers. They do not create an adopted programme or a new entitlement to vaccination.
Sources
- Erster HPV-Atlas Deutschland: Sechs strategische Empfehlungen für eine bessere HPV-Prävention (opens in a new tab) · Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) · Accessed on