health
March 4, 2026
Jovanović: HPV vaccine completely safe and yields results in 95 percent of cases
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is directly linked to the development of various infections and malignant diseases, is completely safe and available for free in Serbia for children and young people aged nine to 26, stated Verica Jovanović, Director of the Institute of Public Health 'Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut', at a conference in Belgrade organized on the occasion of World HPV Awareness Day.
TL;DR
- The HPV vaccine is completely safe and available for free in Serbia for individuals aged 9-26, and now also for those aged 27-45 if indicated by a specialist.
- Vaccination is the most effective and safest way to prevent HPV-related diseases, with the vaccine achieving 95% effectiveness.
- In Serbia, over 60,000 individuals have been vaccinated against HPV.
- Annually, Serbia registers about 1,050 new cases of cervical cancer, over 400 of which are fatal, highlighting the critical need for prevention.
- The vaccine undergoes rigorous safety checks by Serbian and European agencies.
- The Ministry of Health is working to secure adequate vaccine quantities and aims to include it in the mandatory immunization calendar.
- Almost 90% of the Serbian population comes into contact with HPV during their lifetime.
- The campaign aims to protect at least 30,000 unvaccinated children by 2026, despite the capacity to vaccinate up to 600,000 annually.
- The vaccine is most effective when administered before sexual activity begins.
- HPV affects both girls and boys, potentially causing warts and serious cancers of the penis, anal region, head, and neck.
- Public health officials and patient advocacy groups emphasize the importance of timely vaccination and dispelling misinformation about the vaccine's safety.
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