History of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination with a Focus on Italy

Abstract

The Italian National Immunization Plan (NIP) states that public health today aims at immunizing adolescents of both sexes for maximum protection against all HPV-related vaccine-preventable diseases. Nowadays, the vaccination offer to primary cohorts is reaffirmed with continued free vaccination up to at least 26 years of age for females and up to at least 18 years of age for males. The Italian NIP 2023–2025 recommends HPV vaccination for at-risk categories, including individuals with HIV, men who have sex with men (MSM), women treated for intermediate- or high-grade lesions, and travelers. Catch-up vaccination is recommended for women at least up to 26 years of age, also using the appropriate occasion of the call for the first screening for the prevention of cervical cancer as an opportunity for vaccination, and for men at least up to and including 18 years of age if they have not been previously vaccinated or have not completed the vaccination cycle. In summary, the Italian vaccination offer has been extended to additional cohorts in order to reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases and to improve vaccination coverage of the Italian population.