The results of the vaccination campaign for adolescents against the human papillomavirus (HPV), launched in 2023 in French secondary schools, are "not yet there," lamented Health Minister Catherine Vautrin on Friday, who is keen to go "further."
"For the moment, the results are not there. We have not gone far enough," declared the Minister of Labor, Health and Solidarity on the sidelines of a trip to Bordeaux for World Endometriosis Day.
"The idea is indeed to go further. We will do this with the National Education system, with parents, because it is important to inform parents about the benefits of a vaccination like this," she argued.
With more than 3,100 new cases and more than 1,100 deaths each year in France, cervical cancer, of which the papillomavirus is the main cause, "remains a major public health problem," according to Public Health France (SpF).
Vaccination, which prevents up to 90% HPV infections that cause cancer (uterus, throat, etc.), is recommended in France for adolescents aged 11 to 14 years inclusive, with a possible catch-up between 15 and 19 years.
And since the 2023-2024 school year, 5th grade students can be vaccinated, subject to authorization from both parents, in all public middle schools as well as in voluntary private establishments.
HPV vaccination has progressed in recent years. In 2023, vaccination coverage was estimated at 54.6% for at least one dose among 15-year-old girls (+8.8 points compared to 2021), according to SpF, despite "significant territorial disparities."
But the HPV vaccine is sometimes the target of religious circles opposed to discussing sexuality with young adolescents.
Symbolizing a mixed assessment of the first year of vaccination in middle schools, an increase of more than 20 points in vaccination coverage (at least one dose) was observed among students born in 2011, to 48% among boys and 62% among girls, but without reaching the set target of 80% by 2030, according to SpF.
"We must improve vaccination rates in our country," Catherine Vautrin insisted on Friday. "My goal is obviously to eventually vaccinate all young people. But I know how big a challenge that is."
For the 2025-2026 school year, the government is preparing a combined vaccination campaign in middle schools against papillomavirus and invasive meningococcal infections.
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