Thursday, November 27, 2025

New WIdO Early Detection Monitor 2025: HPV vaccination significantly reduces conisations – AOK and German Cancer Society call for higher vaccination rates

To mark this year’s “Cancer Prevention Day” on 28 November, AOK and the German Cancer Society have published new data from the Scientific Institute of AOK (WIdO). The analysis provides clear evidence of the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer and simultaneously emphasizes the continued importance of gynecological screening. The newly released Early Detection Monitor 2025 places a strong focus on cervical cancer.

The evaluation shows that women vaccinated against HPV in childhood or adolescence require only about half as many conisations as unvaccinated women. A conisation is a surgical procedure that removes abnormal tissue, usually precancerous lesions caused by persistent HPV infection. The analysis covers the earliest HPV vaccination cohorts from 2007 to 2024, tracking them from adolescence into adulthood at age 30.

By the age of 30, only 100 conisations were performed among 10,000 vaccinated AOK-insured women, compared to 184 among unvaccinated women. Dr. Carola Reimann, Chairwoman of the AOK Federal Association, views the results as compelling proof of the vaccine's protective value, potentially sparing young women invasive procedures that may increase the risk of preterm birth in later pregnancies.

Vaccination rate remains far below WHO targets

Despite clear evidence, HPV vaccination rates in Germany remain insufficient. According to the Robert Koch Institute, only 54.6 percent of 15-year-old girls and 34 percent of boys are fully vaccinated. The WHO aims for a 90-percent rate by 2030. AOK data also show gaps: among insured women aged 19, only about 60 percent have received at least two doses.

Professor Michael Ghadimi, President of the German Cancer Society, calls for nationwide financing and stronger integration of HPV vaccination into all U and J preventive examinations. He also highlights the importance of school vaccination programs and digital reminder systems. Boys must be addressed more strongly as they can contract or transmit HPV, which can cause cancers of the mouth, throat, penis and anus.

Screening remains indispensable

In addition to vaccination, screening plays a vital role. Cervical cancer screening, established in Germany in 1971, still has the highest participation rate of all cancer early detection programs. Between 2021 and 2024, over 80 percent of AOK-insured women aged 25 to 55 participated. However, participation remains slightly below pre-pandemic levels.

Because the HPV vaccine does not protect against all high-risk HPV strains, screening remains essential even for vaccinated women. WIdO data show that vaccinated women can still develop precancerous lesions requiring treatment. Positively, vaccinated and unvaccinated women show nearly identical participation rates in screening.

Screening for other cancer types on the rise again

The Early Detection Monitor also reports increasing participation rates for other screening programs: skin cancer (7.6 million examinations), prostate cancer (4.4 million men), mammography screening (around 3 million women), and colorectal cancer screening (638,000 colonoscopies). After pandemic-related declines, participation levels have clearly recovered.

“Cancer Prevention Day” raises awareness for early detection

The awareness day is taking place for the fourth time this year. Initiated by AOK and the German Cancer Society in 2022, it aims to strengthen public attention on cancer screening. In 2024, AOK provides new materials, including an HPV vaccination reminder calendar and an updated version of the “Vorsorg-O-Mat,” which offers personalized screening recommendations.

Both organizations use their communication channels around 28 November to encourage wider participation in early detection programs and to reduce the long-term burden of cancer.