HPV immunization rate in Italy for 12-years-olds 2008-2021, by birth and gender

The immunization rate against the human papillomavirus (HPV) among 12-years-old individuals in Italy varies greatly according to gender and year of birth. Generally, the vaccination is more common among girls than it is among boys, even though it can be seen that the share of boys vaccinated against HPV increased steadily in Italy, reaching almost 50 percent of 12-year-old boys in 2018. For women, the immunization rate fluctuated but was generally high, even though it fell to 32 percent in 2021 for individuals born in 2009.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a widespread sexually transmitted infection. In the vast majority of cases, it causes no symptoms and no damage to one's health. However, some strains of the virus can lead to several types of cancer in both women and men.