HPV-linked cancers are largely preventable, but fewer than six in 10 15-year-old girls and just over a third of boys in Germany were fully vaccinated in 2024.
More than one in every eight cancer cases worldwide in 2024 was linked to an infection, according to a new analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer published in The Lancet Oncology. The study estimated about 2.3 million infection-related tumours last year, or roughly 12% of all newly diagnosed cancers. One of the clearest examples is human papillomavirus, or HPV, which is responsible for a substantial share of preventable cancers, including about 11,000 cases each year in Germany.
HPV is a large family of viruses spread mainly through sexual contact. Public health experts say most people will encounter it at some point: more than four in five sexually active people are thought to be infected at least once in their lives. In many cases the body clears the virus without symptoms, but persistent infection can trigger cell changes that, over time, may develop into precancerous lesions and then cancer. The disease most commonly associated with HPV is cervical cancer, but the virus can also lead to cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus and throat.
The vaccination is the most effective way to protect against the most dangerous HPV types. In Germany, two vaccines are in use: Cervarix, which targets the two high-risk strains most closely linked to cervical cancer, and Gardasil 9, which covers those strains plus several others that cause cancer and genital warts. Specialists say both vaccines are highly effective, but they do not replace cervical screening. The National Cancer Institute says nearly all cervical cancers could be prevented through vaccination, routine screening and follow-up treatment when needed.
Timing matters. The vaccine works best before any exposure to the virus, which is why Germany’s Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends immunisation from age nine to 14, with catch-up vaccination advised up to the 18th birthday. Virologists say it can still make sense later in life for people who have had little or no sexual contact, but the benefit generally falls once exposure has already occurred. The World Health Organisation has said cervical cancer could be eliminated as a public health problem if vaccination coverage reached 90%, a target Germany remains well below.
Coverage in Germany remains patchy. The latest figures cited in the report show that in 2024 only 55% of 15-year-old girls were fully vaccinated, compared with 36% of boys. That gap matters, experts say, because boys benefit directly from protection against HPV-related cancers and indirectly by helping to reduce transmission. The broader evidence also supports the vaccine’s safety: public health agencies say side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as soreness at the injection site, headache or fatigue, and large studies have found no link with infertility. For families, the message from cancer specialists is straightforward: HPV vaccination is one of the few tools that can prevent cancer before it starts.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
