HPV Coalition celebrates 3 years since its establishment

HPV Coalition celebrates 3 years since its establishment. The HPV Coalition, of which Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) is a founding member, celebrated three years since its establishment with a press conference at BTA. The event was attended by the Executive Director of our organization, Dr. Radosveta Stamenkova. During this period, the Coalition achieved significant results in compensating for our country’s long-standing lag in the prevention of diseases related to the human papillomavirus (HPV), and set the topic of vaccine prevention as a national priority. Established on March 9, 2023, the HPV Coalition unites leading medical specialists, experts and public figures with the mission to limit, through prevention, cancers caused by HPV in women and men. At the beginning of the initiative, vaccination coverage in Bulgaria was extremely low. Today, there is already real progress – the National Primary Prevention Program covers both girls aged 10–14 and those catching up to 18, as well as boys in the same age group.

Vaccination as a priority for public health

“Our goal is to reach as many people as possible and raise awareness of the importance of HPV vaccination. This is an investment in children’s health today, which prevents serious diseases in the future,” emphasized Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski, Minister of Health and co-founder of the coalition. He also emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between institutions and the fight against misinformation that threatens public health. General practitioners play a key role in the process. According to Dr. Gergana Nikolova, Chief Coordinator of the HPV Coalition, they are in direct contact with parents and have the opportunity to provide reliable medical information and support. Despite the existing challenges and anti-vaccination attitudes, there is growing trust and interest in the vaccine. In a number of practices, full vaccination coverage has already been achieved, with the most active doctors being awarded the “Vaccinator of the Year” award for 2025. Virologist Prof. Dr. Radka Argirova drew attention to the fact that HPV also affects men, including with a potential impact on reproductive health. The inclusion of boys in the free vaccination program is an important step towards comprehensive prevention. For her part, Assoc. Prof. Yordanka Uzunova emphasized the importance of effective communication between doctors and parents. The main challenge remains the understanding that prevention today protects against serious diseases in the future.

During the event, the White Paper of the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (iHE) was also presented, dedicated to the elimination of cervical cancer in Bulgaria. The data show serious challenges – the incidence and mortality from this disease in our country are about twice the average for the European Union. Late diagnosis remains a major problem, although the disease is largely preventable through timely prophylaxis. The document recommends specific measures, including:

• introducing primary screening with HPV DNA tests for women over 30;

• creating national registries and integrated tracking systems;

• ensuring sustainable policies and long-term solutions.

The White Paper was developed with the participation of Bulgarian experts and aims to support the formulation of effective national policies.

Progress in the implementation of the National Program

Data for 2025, presented by the Ministry of Health, show a significant increase in vaccination coverage. The number of doses administered reached 18,495, which is almost double the previous year. Of these, 14,507 were administered to girls and 3,988 to boys. Increased interest in the vaccine is reported in both large cities and smaller areas. In some regions, the proportion of vaccinated boys already exceeds that of girls – an indicator of expanding coverage and changing public attitudes. In the next stages of the program (2029–2030), it is planned to expand free vaccination – including for young women up to 21 years of age and boys up to 15 years of age.

📄 The White Paper “Eliminating Cervical Cancer: Mission Possible!” can be viewed here.

BFPA actively supports the coalition’s efforts, including through participation in the three-year #HUMANCODE project, funded by the European Union, implemented jointly with Trakia University and partners from Romania and Ukraine. The project contributes to improving access to services, raising awareness and reaching vulnerable groups, in line with the coalition’s goals.