In January 2008, a panel of ECDC experts produced the Guidance for the introduction of HPV vaccines in EU countries. Since then, the European Union has come a long way: most countries have implemented national vaccination programmes for adolescent girls and a significant number have also introduced catch-up programmes for young women.
Two prophylactic HPV vaccines have been licensed in Europe, a bivalent and a quadrivalent vaccine: both have a good safety profile and protect against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18.
This guidance report lays down the scientific basis for the potential introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in order to help EU Member States to make policy choices
Today, ECDC publishes an update to its 2008 Guidance on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in Europe. The update follows the introduction of vaccination programmes in 19 European countries and new evidence from research studies over the past four years.
HPV DNA detection in urine is a feasible practice and a useful tool in future research; however, the available studies dealing on the topic appear too diverse in their setup and applied methodology to draw conclusive statements
Similar to other European countries, cervical infection with HPV-16, the HPV type with the strongest oncogenic potential, were most common both overall and among women with cervical disease.