Introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Sweden

Abstract

The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (NBH) decided that a vaccine that protects against cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) should be included in the childhood vaccination directive as a nationwide-programme targeting 12-year-old girls from 2010 as a part of the school-health programme. Currently, vaccination of girls 13-18 years of age is covered by the public insurance. In this paper we describe the decision-making process behind the introduction of HPV vaccination in Sweden.