Over Half of Belgians Unaware HPV Causes Cancer, Study Finds
A new national survey reveals that 56% of Belgians are unaware that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cancer, exposing a critical gap in public health awareness that undermines prevention efforts. The findings, released on June 1 by All.Can Belgium, arrive on the same day that Belgium expanded HPV vaccine reimbursement to adults up to age 30.
The Awareness Gap
The survey of 1,160 Belgian adults, conducted by the multi-stakeholder cancer care initiative All.Can Belgium, paints a troubling picture of public knowledge about HPV. The virus is responsible for more than 1,000 cancer diagnoses annually in Belgium, yet a majority of the population remains unaware of the connection.
Nearly four in ten women (38%) do not associate HPV with cervical cancer, despite cervical cancer being the most well-known HPV-related malignancy. Furthermore, approximately 40% of HPV-related cancers are not cervical cancer at all — they include cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and oropharyngeal (head and neck) cancers.
A Gender Blind Spot
The survey reveals a particularly concerning lack of awareness about HPV’s impact on men. Only 30% of respondents know that HPV can cause cancer in men, reinforcing a widespread misconception that HPV is solely a women’s health issue. This is especially worrying given rising rates of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers in men.
According to RTBF, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating: “We continue our fight against cancer. This vaccine works and prevents a lot of suffering.”
Low Vaccination Awareness
Only 26% of respondents feel sufficiently informed about HPV prevention, and barely half of the population knows that HPV vaccines exist. These figures suggest that even as the financial barrier to vaccination is being addressed through expanded reimbursement, the knowledge barrier remains formidable.
Regional Disparity
The survey findings come against the backdrop of a stark regional divide in vaccination rates. As La Libre Belgique reported in April, only 52% of French-speaking Belgians (Wallonia and Brussels) are vaccinated against HPV, compared to 88% among Flemish speakers in Flanders. This gap highlights the need for targeted, culturally adapted public health campaigns.
Expanded Reimbursement Takes Effect
Starting June 1, 2026, Belgium’s expanded vaccine reimbursement covers all young adults aged 19 to 30 who have not yet been vaccinated. For high-risk groups — including people living with HIV, stem cell transplant recipients, and organ transplant candidates — reimbursement extends up to age 45.
The VRT NWS reported that the retail price of the Gardasil9 vaccine is €120.59 per dose, with a full three-dose schedule costing approximately €361.77. Under the new scheme, patients pay just €12.80 per dose (€8.50 with increased reimbursement), or €38.40 for the full schedule. The government has allocated approximately €6 million for the expanded program, covering an estimated 60,000 additional vaccines per year.
Implications for EU 2030 Targets
The European Union has set a target of 90% vaccination coverage for girls by 2030. Belgium’s current rates, particularly in French-speaking regions, fall well short of this goal. The awareness gap identified by the All.Can Belgium survey suggests that improving knowledge about HPV and its link to cancer must go hand in hand with expanding access to vaccination.
What’s Next
All.Can Belgium has called for better education about HPV, vaccination, and screening to fully realize the potential of prevention. The organization’s findings raise important questions about what specific awareness campaigns will follow and how the government plans to address the vaccination rate gap between French-speaking and Flemish-speaking communities. Without concerted efforts to close the awareness gap, Belgium risks continuing to see over 1,000 preventable HPV-related cancer diagnoses each year.