Juliette Gagliardi
Junior Researcher
Human papillomavirus (HPV) in Italy - Statistics & Facts
The human papillomavirus is a very common infectious virus having more than 200 serotypes. Some of its variants are associated with no symptoms at all, others with warts and condylomas, and some with tumors (especially involving the reproductive system). Cervical cancer is the most frequent type of cancer related to contracting HPV: in 2020 around 10.2 women out of 100,000 in Italy were diagnosed with HPV-related cervical cancer. During the same year, the second most frequent HPV-related cancer was laryngeal cancer for men. A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that only 59 percent of Italians were aware of the link between HPV and cancer.
HPV immunization rate
The vaccine against HPV protects against few, but among the most dangerous, variants of the virus, and it is effective in preventing 90 percent of cancers associated with HPV. It consists of the administration of two doses, six months apart, or three doses if the first dose is administered after 15 years of age. Since 2007, the vaccine against HPV has been provided free of charge to girls in Italy aged between 11 and 12 years. For this reason, there was fairly high vaccine coverage, above 50 percent, almost every year between 2008 and 2021. The HPV immunization rate for 12-year-old boys reached its peak in 2018 after the vaccine was also introduced free of charge for them. As a result, Italy was the first European country to introduce HPV universal vaccination for adolescents. Across the country, the Autonomous Province of Trento has the highest immunization rate both for boys and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the HPV immunization rate for both genders, reducing vaccination booking and opportunities for getting informed.Awareness and opinions on HPV
Since the HPV vaccine is given to minors, the opinion of parents is important to achieve a high immunization rate as, ultimately, the decision on vaccination is theirs. In 2022, the age of the recipients was among the leading factors that made Italian parents not interested in vaccinating their children against HPV. Moreover, during the same year, almost 4 percent of parents did not know about the HPV vaccine. This percentage increased when among males, people with lower education, and those living in the south of the country and islands. Despite the widespread literature available in support of the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine, there were still general doctors, pediatricians, and gynecologists in Italy that advise parents not to vaccinate their children against HPV. These professional figures are the main sources of information for parents on HPV.
