Prevention and especially vaccination. It is through these two levers that the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region decided to fight against HPV/papillomavirus. For the moment, nothing has been won. Indeed, although vaccination has been open to adolescent girls since 2007, and to boys since 2021, the vaccination coverage rate in France remains low. It peaks at 37% among girls and struggles to exceed 10% among boys.
In schools, the first vaccination campaign carried out last year did not mobilize crowds. A second campaign must also be carried out at the start of the next school year. As a reminder, the government’s objective is to vaccinate 80% of young people by 2030.
In this context, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has decided to move up a gear and commit to fighting papillomaviruses. Fifteen high schools from across the region have agreed to test the passage of a health prevention bus through their establishment. 5,000 young people in public or private school are affected.
They will thus participate in interactive workshops “HPV Prevention – Instructions for use” during dedicated class times. Coordinated with school nurses, the workshops must inform young people about the risks of HPV-related cancers. But also make them aware of catch-up vaccinations, for effective protection.
For the moment, this is only a pilot phase, specifies Doctor Pauline Vidican. A first assessment should be drawn up this summer. It will allow the format and messages to be adapted, if necessary, based on feedback from the field. The bus tour should continue to be deployed in the region with voluntary high schools in the school years to come.
To go further > Health: what is the papillomavirus and how to protect yourself from it?
