Germany reviews its policy on HPV vaccination for 12-17 year olds

Germany’s Robert Koch Institute is reviewing its recommendation that all 12-17 year old girls should be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) to reduce the risk of cervical cancer, after criticism from experts.

A group of 13 medical scientists publicly criticised the institute’s recommendation in November 2008 (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, 26 Nov).

Susanne Glasmacher, spokeswoman at the Berlin based institute, which is responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany, told the BMJ that the institute’s standing vaccination committee was undertaking the review because new studies had been published and because of the “public discussion” generated by the 13 scientists.

However, she hinted that the committee would not reverse the original …