Aktueller Stand der HPV-Impfung in Deutschland

The main cause for the development of cervical cancer is a persistent infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV). HPV vaccines protect against particular types of sexually transmittable HPV and serve to prevent cancer. The high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 account for about 60–70% of all cases of cervical cancers worldwide. In 2013, 4610 women developed cervical cancer in Germany; the incidence rate was 11.2 per 100,000. The papillomaviruses type 6 and 11 are primarily responsible for the emergence of genital warts. Currently, three HPV vaccines are approved: a bivalent vaccine effective against HPV 16 and 18, a tetravalent vaccine protecting against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18, and a nonavalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Clinical studies have shown that infections, high-grade precursor lesions of cervical cancer, and genital warts can be largely prevented by the vaccination when HPV naïve girls were vaccinated before the first sexual contact. The vaccines have a prophylactic effect; existing infections cannot be treated. According to current state of knowledge, HPV vaccines are well tolerated, safe, and highly immunogenic. The German Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) currently recommends the vaccination of girls between 9 and 14 years with the aim of reducing the burden of disease on cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. In Germany, the HPV vaccination reaches about 50% of the entitled girls. Cervical cancer screening is still recommended for vaccinated women since the vaccination does not cover all carcinogenic HPV types, and therefore not all cervical carcinomas can be prevented.