What does France look like for middle school students facing the papillomavirus after a second year of school vaccination? Published on December 18, the results of Public health France on the 2024-2025 campaign details the impact of the system in 5th grade, extended to medico-social establishments. According to this report, more than 116,541 students received at least one dose of vaccine against HPV infections in colleges and medico-social establishments during the 2024-2025 school year. Coverage is progressing significantly among adolescents, without yet reaching the milestone set for 2030.
Figures clearly increasing
Among children born in 2012 affiliated to the general scheme, the 2024-2025 campaign increased coverage of at least one dose to 54% among girls and 43% among boys, i.e. increases of 16 and 14 points. For two doses, 35% of girls and 27% of boys are now vaccinated, with progress of 16 and 13 points. For Public health Francethis progression of around 15 points confirms the effectiveness of the deployment in schools.
The starting point was, however, similar to that of the first 2023-2024 campaign, which had already increased coverage to 38% of girls and 30% of boys with two doses. This time, the increase is less strong, the authors of the report explaining it in part by less intensive communication around the operation.
Marked territorial differences
The results vary greatly: Brittany comes out on top, while Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Corsica, Île-de-France and the overseas departments and regions have the lowest coverage. Only 13% of vaccinations for children born in 2012 took place in middle school (11% of girls, 14% of boys). The agency judges “probable that the number of vaccinations carried out at secondary school, vaccination coverage and the share of vaccinations carried out at secondary school are underestimated“.
The majority of injections therefore continue to be given in town, with doctors, pharmacists, nurses or midwives. But the campaign in schools remains central: the files distributed in 5th grade, the parental authorization to sign and the sessions organized in establishments often serve as a trigger for planning, then completing, vaccination outside of school.
A major long-term cancer issue
In terms of health, the stakes remain considerable. Vaccination against the papillomavirus can prevent up to 90% of infections causing cancer of the cervix, anus or ENT area. However, each year, around 6,000 new cases of cancer in France are attributable to infections linked to these viruses.
This assessment comes while the national strategy is still targeting 80% HPV coverage in 2030. The next 2025-2026 campaign provides for a joint HPV and meningococcal offer in all establishments welcoming 11-14 year olds. At the same time, the
High Authority of Health recommends possible catch-up up to age 26, with the Gardasil 9 vaccine now covered for young adults.