Huge crowd at the free HPV vaccination day in Vienna!

Huge crowd at the free HPV vaccination day in Vienna!

Yesterday, on June 16, 2025, the newly founded HPV Youth Advisory Board in Vienna organized an information and vaccination day with great commitment. Under the motto “Fck HPV”, young people should be motivated to find out about human papilloma viruses (HPV) and their health consequences. The event took place at “The Social Hub Vienna” and attracted numerous young people who were interested in the topic of health.

The HPV Youth Advisory Board, consisting of around ten members aged 17 to 22, has been active since May to promote education and prevention. Sophie Drescher, one of the organizers, highlighted the importance of educating the young population about the risks of HPV, as this most common sexually transmitted infection in the world is associated with potentially high risks of cancer, particularly uterine cancer. Numerous vaccines were reordered on site as demand was greater than expected and the health lectures and a DJ set on display were well attended.

HPV and the dangers

HPV includes more than 200 different types, although only certain ones, such as the high-risk types 16 and 18, can actually cause cancer. Estimates show that around 6,250 women and 1,600 men in Germany develop HPV-related cancer every year. What is particularly worrying is that cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by HPV, which highlights the importance of vaccination. In Austria, too, more and more people are having to undergo medical interventions because of HPV-related precancerous lesions, which makes the Youth Advisory Council's initiative all the more important. Until December 2023, the HPV vaccination is free for everyone up to their 30th birthday, with the first vaccination having to be completed by June.

Vaccination: Safe and necessary

The HPV vaccination is not only effective, but also classified as safe. According to the WHO, over 270 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide without any significant health side effects reported. Common reactions such as pain or redness at the injection site are mild and temporary. Serious side effects are extremely rare, occurring in approximately 1.7 cases per million vaccinations. The concerns that some Internet forums spread about serious side effects have been conclusively refuted by comprehensive studies. The Paul Ehrlich Institute found no connection between two deaths in 2007 and the HPV vaccination, which once again underlines the safety.

With these findings and events like today's day of action, HPV awareness will be further advanced in Vienna. The future will show how much the commitment of the HPV Youth Advisory Board can bear fruit and whether numerous young people will benefit if they decide to be vaccinated. Because the following applies: Prevention is the best way to a healthy future.

For more information on the subject of HPV, see this Vaccination information comprehensive information and background knowledge, while love life is a good contact point for parents and interested parties. The article by My district also provides exciting insights into the local initiative.