Don’t Miss It: Free HPV Vaccination for Young People Born 1996-2003

Get the first shot against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as soon as possible. That is the message of the ‘Don’t miss it’ campaign that starts today. This initiative of the RIVM and the GGD is aimed at young people born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2003. The aim of this campaign is to realize that for free full vaccination, a first vaccination is necessary before the summer, because between two required injections must sit for at least five months. The vaccination is only free for this group during the catch-up campaign this year. In Flevoland, these young adults can only go without an appointment this month. From 3 July you must have an appointment.

Attendance
The national turnout of the catch-up campaign is now approaching 20%. An exact turnout percentage in Flevoland is not known. About 35,000 young people in Flevoland are eligible for an injection. Boys received an invitation for an HPV vaccination for the first time this year. Since the start of the HPV18+ campaign (30-01 to 01-06), GGD Flevoland has injected 4973 people.

HPV vaccination locations
In Flevoland, young people can walk in without an appointment at the GGD locations in Almere, Lelystad and Emmeloord on Fridays and Saturdays. From July, the free walk-in and the location in Emmeloord will expire and the vaccination can only be obtained by appointment in Almere and Lelystad. In order to give as many young people as possible the chance to get the HPV vaccination, various GGDs in the Netherlands will drive special vaccination buses to locations designated as Halte HPV in the week of June 5. There will also be pop-up vaccination locations in places where many young adults come, such as at educational institutions and at train stations. This way, anyone who wants to get the shot can easily make a stopover this week for an HPV vaccination. Go to to see where the vaccination locations are by region.

About HPV and the vaccination
The HPV virus is highly contagious and is spread through intimate contact. Every year, an estimated 1,500 people in the Netherlands get cancer due to HPV, about 1,100 women and 400 men. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of HPV. The HPV vaccination protects against six types of cancer: in the mouth and pharynx and on the penis, anus, vagina, labia and cervix. The vaccine also protects young people who are already sexually active. In the Netherlands, the jab was offered to girls from 2009, and boys were also invited from 2022. More than a million young people have already been vaccinated.
Only two injections provide long-term protection against HPV and there must be sufficient time in between. The effectiveness of the HPV vaccine is continuously studied, no permanent side effects have been found. For more information or help with making a choice, there is www.hpvkeuzehulp.nl.