In brief

• Free HPV vaccinations for people aged 19–26 are more popular than expected, so additional doses have been allocated.
• 8.4 thousand doses of Cervarix will be added to the programme, bringing the total to 59.4 thousand doses.
• New applications are no longer being accepted, and the programme will run until 31 May 2027.
• An HPV vaccination obligation is under consultation, but no date has been set.

Additional doses and pace of distribution

Free vaccinations against the human papillomavirus have proven more popular than anticipated. Currently, facilities administer as many as 4 thousand doses a day, whereas at the start of the programme the figure was around 200 a month (Dodatkowe szczepionki przeciw HPV w Polsce – trybunapolska.pl). Paweł Grzesiowski, Chief Sanitary Inspector, announced the allocation of a further 8.4 thousand doses (Więcej dawek szczepionek przeciw HPV. Dla kogo szczepienie jest bezpłatne? - TVN24 – tvn24.pl). This concerns the bivalent vaccine Cervarix, which primarily protects against infections with HPV types 16 and 18 (Szczepienia przeciw HPV. GIS ogłasza ostatnią pulę dawek – NewsMed.pl – newsmed.pl). Originally, 51 thousand doses were earmarked for the programme. After the additional allocation, 59.4 thousand doses are available, which is enough for 19.8 thousand complete three-dose schedules.

Who can take part and until when

The programme covers people who have turned 18 but have not yet turned 27. Vaccinations began on 1 October and will run until 31 May 2027.

End of accepting applications

The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny) reported that new applications for vaccines under the programme are no longer being accepted. Earlier applications are not automatically cancelled as a result. Interested people should ask their chosen facility whether they can still receive a free dose.

Possible vaccination obligation

The draft regulation remains in public consultation. Previously, 1 January 2027 had been indicated as the possible start date of the obligation (Szczepienie przeciw HPV może stać się obowiązkowe. Ministerstwo Zdrowia wciąż nie podało daty zmian - wiadomości Medycyna i Zdrowie – politykazdrowotna.com). It has not been determined which birth cohorts the new requirement would cover.

What is worth knowing

Parents and young adults who want to be vaccinated can check at a clinic or outpatient facility whether the facility still has doses available under the programme. It is worth discussing the decision to vaccinate with a doctor.