No permanent side effects

More than 1.5 million people in the Netherlands are now fully vaccinated against HPV. Symptoms that could be side effects are being studied thoroughly. Possible side effects after the HPV vaccination include a sore arm and muscle pain. Sometimes people may also have stomach pain, nausea, tiredness, headache or fever. This all goes away within 1-3 days. No serious, permanent side effects have ever been found, even though the vaccination has been given in the Netherlands since 2010.

The website of the Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb has more information about vaccine side effects.

No permanent fatigue symptoms due to HPV vaccination

Some parents are concerned that their child may have long-term fatigue symptoms after the HPV vaccination. In the past, there was media coverage that suggested this. However, chronic fatigue is not related to the HPV vaccination in any way. Girls who have not been vaccinated are just as likely to suffer from chronic fatigue as girls who have been vaccinated. This is supported by research in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Norway. 

The website of the Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb has more information about vaccine side effects.

If your child has a fever higher than 38.5 C, it would be better to postpone the vaccination. Consult with your GP or a doctor with the Youth Healthcare Services (JGZ) to reschedule the vaccination for your child.

The Cervarix vaccine against HPV has been in the National Immunisation Programme since 2010. Would you like to know exactly what is in the HPV vaccine? You can view the entry in the medicines database. Or find more information about the vaccine in the simplified package leaflet: Vaccine factsheet: HPV vaccine.

You can access an overview of your vaccination(s) at Mijn.RIVM.nl. Were you vaccinated after 1 January 2022? Then your vaccinations are only displayed if you have given permission to share vaccination data with RIVM. For vaccinations given before 1 January 2022, you did not need to give permission to share data at that time. The details of these vaccinations are usually available online.

More information about the MijnRIVM portal is available at Mijn.RIVM.nl.
You can find out more about how personal data is processed in our privacy statement

When will I receive an invitation for the HPV vaccination?

Since 2022, boys and girls have been invited for the HPV vaccination in the year that they turn 10. If you were not vaccinated against HPV in the year you turned 10, but still want to be, you can get the HPV vaccination free of charge through the National Immunisation Programme until you turn 18. You can contact your local Youth Healthcare Services.  

Are you over 18, and would you like to be vaccinated against HPV? The Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) has an online vaccination service (website in Dutch). You will have to pay for these vaccinations yourself.

Why has the HPV vaccination age been moved from 13 years old to the year in which children turn 10?

When HPV vaccination was launched in the Netherlands, it was not yet clear how long the vaccination would protect children. It is now clear that the vaccination offers long-lasting protection: for at least 15 years. That is why young people can be vaccinated at a younger age. The vaccination works best if a child has not yet come into contact with the virus, so the scheduled age has been moved forward. The vaccine (Cervarix®) is approved for use for young people aged 9 years and older.

How many vaccine doses are given in the HPV vaccination series?

For effective protection, you need 2 vaccine doses given 6 months apart. 
Until 2022, young people aged 15 years and older were offered 3 vaccine doses. In response to an advisory opinion of the Health Council of the Netherlands , this was changed to 2 doses. Only people with relevant health conditions – for example immunosuppressed people who have autoimmune diseases or HIV – are still eligible to receive 3 vaccine doses. If this applies to you or your child, consult with a doctor.

Is the vaccination free?

Yes, the vaccination is covered by the National Immunisation Programme and is free of charge. Were you born before 1996? Then you can be vaccinated against HPV on your own initative. This can be arranged through the GP, a specialist or a vaccination centre. In that case, you pay for the vaccination yourself.

Is HPV vaccination required?

No, vaccination is not required. It is up to you to decide whether to be vaccinated.

Why is vaccination not required?

Whether or not to get vaccinated against HPV is a personal choice. No vaccination is required in the Netherlands. 

Who gives the vaccinations?

Vaccinations are given by the offices of the Youth Healthcare Services, usually during group vaccinations in spring and autumn. You will automatically receive an invitation letter if you are eligible for these vaccinations.

How much time can there be between the first and last HPV vaccination?

6 months after the first vaccination, you will be invited for the second. 
It is not a problem if there is more time between vaccinations. However, for long-term protection, it is important to complete the vaccination series. Do not delay the second vaccination for longer than you have to. 

Can you still get an HPV infection even if you are vaccinated?

The vaccine ensures that your body will recognise the HPV virus, if you are infected with HPV types 16 or 18. After vaccination, your immune system can make the virus harmless. It is very unlikely to get a new, long-term infection with HPV types 16 or 18 after all. However, there are other HPV types that can sometimes cause cancer. The vaccination offers less effective protection against some types, and none at all against others. That is why it is important for women to take part in population screening against cervical cancer after they turn 30, even if you have been vaccinated against HPV.

Is there a big risk of cancer caused by HPV?

Every year, about 400 men and 1,200 women get HPV-related cancer in the Netherlands.
The risk is not very high, thankfully. However, it is a preventable risk. And this does not include the risk of developing precancerous cells that could turn into HPV-related cancer. Every year, 5,500 women in the Netherlands are treated for a preliminary stage of cervical cancer caused by HPV. The impact of precancerous abnormalities can be huge. Examples include uncertainty, uncomfortable check-ups, treatment and its consequences.

How long after HPV infection can precancerous abnormalities or cancer develop?

It takes at least 10 to 15 years before an HPV infection can lead to abnormal cells, a preliminary stage of cancer or full-blown cancer. By getting vaccinated at a young age, you protect yourself against cancer caused by HPV later in life.

How effective is HPV vaccination?

Research in the Netherlands shows that long-term infections with HPV types 16 and 18 are much less common in vaccinated young women than in unvaccinated women. The vaccine offers around 95% protection against long-term HPV infection from types 16 and 18.
Vaccinated women are less likely to develop precancerous abnormalities leading to cervical cancer than unvaccinated women. These findings are seen in the Netherlands and in other countries.

It takes many years before an HPV infection can lead to cancer. Therefore, there are no studies yet in the Netherlands showing that HPV vaccination reduces the incidence of cancer. This effect has already been demonstrated in other countries. Swedish, Danish and British research have shown that HPV vaccination significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine offers about 87% protection against cervical cancer, according to these studies. The younger you are when you are vaccinated, the better the vaccine protects you.

How effective is HPV vaccination at a later age?

The age at which a person is vaccinated against HPV has a major impact on vaccine effectiveness. In young people who were not infected with HPV before vaccination, its effectiveness is highest.

Is the vaccine equally effective in men and women?

Yes, the vaccine works equally well in men and women against new infections with HPV types 16 and 18.

What types of HPV does the Cervarix® vaccine protect against?

The vaccine used in the National Immunisation Programme, Cervarix®, provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18. These two types cause about 70% of all cases of cervical cancer in the Netherlands. In addition, Cervarix® also appears to provide some protection against HPV types  45/35/31/52.

How effective is the Cervarix^® vaccine?

Cervarix^® offers up to 87% protection against cervical cancer, depending on the person’s age at the time of vaccination. The vaccine does not offer complete protection, because cervical cancer can also be caused by HPV types other than the ones Cervarix protects against. Moreover, an HPV infection is not the only thing that can cause cancer of the vagina, labia, penis, anus, mouth or throat.

How much cancer is prevented by the vaccine?

HPV can cause different types of cancer. These include cancer in the mouth and throat, and in and around the anus, penis, labia, vagina and cervix.
An estimated 1,200 women and 400 men in the Netherlands develop cancer as a result of HPV every year. Most of these could be prevented by the HPV vaccination.

Does the HPV vaccine help cure you if you already have an HPV infection?

No, if you are already infected before you get vaccinated, the vaccine will not help cure you of HPV infection. Your body has to clear the virus on its own.

How long are you protected by the vaccination?

The HPV vaccine works for a long time: at least 15 years. We do not know exactly how long. The vaccine has been on the market since 2007, and it still works in people who were already vaccinated against HPV in pre-approval studies.
In the Netherlands, we also see high levels of protection in women vaccinated with the HPV vaccine in 2009.