SPÖ welcomes a catch-up program for people up to the age of 30 and calls for free HPV vaccinations for all age groups in the long term
Vienna (OTS) – A long-standing demand from experts and civil society is finally being implemented with the fundamental agreement announced today between the federal government, the states and social insurance companies:
With the catch-up program for HPV vaccination for everyone up to the age of 30, many Austrians who are no longer entitled to the free vaccination up to their 21st birthday will also have access to this important vaccination program in the future. For SPÖ equal treatment spokesperson Mario Lindner and SPÖ women’s spokesperson Eva-Maria Holzleitner, this is an important step towards strengthening sexual health in Austria: “Health should never depend on your wallet! After the free HPV vaccination until 21 was an important first step, the time-limited catch-up phase will enable many more people to be protected against human papilloma viruses in the future.” ****
“It is clear to us that everyone who wants to be vaccinated against HPV must be entitled to it, regardless of their income.” The two SPÖ MPs have been calling for such a vaccination program in parliament for a long time and welcome the fact that the Ministry of Health is giving this expert* interior proposal now finally wants to comply.
It is particularly important that in the future both women and men will be able to be vaccinated against HPV easily and with a low threshold. “HPV is responsible for a large number of secondary diseases and women in particular are far too often affected by cancer due to an HPV infection. That’s why up to 500 women in Austria are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, and almost half of them die from it,” emphasizes Holzleitner. “That’s why it’s important to educate young men in particular more than before and to motivate them to get the HPV vaccination – any broken chain of infection can happen avoid long-term illnesses. This is exactly what the Ministry of Health must focus on!”
For Lindner it is also clear that a catch-up program for people up to the age of 30 can only be an intermediate step in the fight against HPV: “According to the national vaccination plan, it must also be about making it possible for people to receive a free vaccination, regardless of age. Anyone who wants to be vaccinated against HPV must be able to do so – it shouldn’t make any difference whether a 33-year-old wants to protect themselves from HPV or a 29-year-old!” says Lindner, the National Vaccination Plan also recommends an HPV vaccination independently of age, especially in people with an increased risk of cancer. We therefore continue to demand a legal right to free HPV vaccinations! I expect the Minister of Health to implement exactly such a claim on a permanent basis – sexual health must never be a social issue!” The two SPÖ MPs will soon launch a corresponding initiative in the National Council. (End) ah/jks
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