07/25/2022
If you bracket them corona-vaccinations, all other vaccinations in Germany declined in 2021 – by a total of 7%. The declines are particularly high for important ones child vaccinations such as MMRV and HPV.
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The reasons for the decline are manifold: misinformation, disruption of supply chains and a changed awareness of danger due to the contact restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
UNICEF and WHO are sounding the alarm
This phenomenon can be observed worldwide. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) sound the alarm and speak of the sharpest decline in routine vaccinations worldwide in the last 30 years. According to current surveys, around 25 million children worldwide will miss out on life-saving vaccinations in 2021.
Standard vaccinations for children in Germany have fallen by up to 18%
For multiple vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV), the market research company IQVIA found a decline of 18% in Germany. Multiple vaccines with tetanuscomponents were vaccinated 9% less.
The HPV vaccination, which was only introduced in 2007, also fell by 12%. This is worrying, especially since the vaccination rates for 18-year-old women (51%) and 18-year-old men (1.3%) in Germany are low anyway – compared to other industrialized nations such as Norway, Great Britain and Australia.
» Vaccination: Current vaccination recommendations
HPV vaccination protects against cancer, but vaccination coverage is low
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are sexually transmitted pathogens and are widespread. Around 80% of all people are infected with it in the course of their lives. Depending on the HPV type, those affected can develop genital warts and cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus and oral cavity. HPV vaccinations for girls and boys are effective in protecting against these cancers.
You can find out more about human papilloma viruses and HPV vaccinations against cancer here: Decided. Against the cancer.
Sources:WHO and Unicef: Largest sustained decline in global routine vaccinations in three decades, No free-rider effects: Vaccination activity without corona declining, HPV vaccination: good effectiveness, low rate