According to a statement from the European Commission, steps should be taken by EU nations to boost the adoption of two vaccinations that guard against viral infections that might lead to cancer, reports The Mirror.
The two vaccines protect against hepatitis B (HBV), which can cause liver cancer, and human papillomaviruses (HPV), which can cause a variety of malignancies, including cervical cancer.
The European Union wants its member nations to achieve a 90% HPV vaccination rate for girls by 2030 and a much higher percentage for males as part of the Beating Cancer Plan for Europe.
“Many member states are well below 50% HPV vaccination coverage for girls with limited data available for boys and young adults,” the Commission statement said, reports The Mirror.
The EU advises nations to set goals for boys, enhance communication and access, and offer free or completely reimbursed vaccinations in order to reach this rate.
The HPV vaccinations manufactured by Merck & Co. and GlaxoSmithKline are approved for use in the EU, reports The Mirror.
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