HPV vaccination: who should get it and who pays?

Almost everyone gets HPV at least once in their life. Most of the time the body clears the virus on its own, but some types can lead to cancer over the years. In Germany, around 6,250 women and 1,600 men develop HPV-related cancer every year. The vaccine offers strong protection against these types.

In short

• STIKO recommends the vaccine for girls and boys aged 9–14. Missed vaccinations should be caught up by age 17 at the latest.
• If you are under 18, insurance always pays. Between 18 and 26, many insurers pay voluntarily.
• The vaccine does not replace regular screening.

Who should get vaccinated?

• Children: Protection is best at 9–14. Up to age 14, two doses are enough. From 15, three doses are needed.
• Adults: The vaccine is also recommended for people over 18 who have not been vaccinated, although it is less effective than in young people. It can still help even if you are already sexually active. Even if you have had one HPV type, the vaccine keeps protecting you against the other types it covers.
• Everyone: HPV does not only affect the cervix. The vaccine protects men too and matters regardless of your partners' gender.

Who pays?

Tip: With some insurers the vaccine is billed via your insurance card. With others you pay first and then upload the invoice to get the money back. Before starting, call your insurer and ask up to what age they pay and how.

Step by step

1. Check your vaccination booklet (Impfpass). If you were vaccinated in Turkey before, bring that record too.
2. Call your insurer: Up to what age do they pay? Via the card or by reimbursement?
3. Book an appointment: Your gynaecologist (Frauenärztin) or GP (Hausärztin) can give the vaccine.
4. Put the doses in your calendar: In the three-dose schedule, the second dose comes 2 months after the first and the third 6 months after. All three doses should be completed within a year.
5. Finish the series with the same vaccine. You need to complete the series with the same vaccine you received for the first dose.

Vaccine and screening: both together

The vaccine does not cover all cancer-causing HPV types. That is why regular screening is still needed:

• Age 20–34: A Pap test once a year.
• Age 35 and over: A Pap test and an HPV test are done together (co-test). If the result is clear, it is repeated every three years; if there is a minor finding, after one year.

Statutory health insurance covers these screenings.

Where to go in Berlin

• Your gynaecologist or GP: The first place to go for vaccination and screening.
• Sexual health centres: Berlin has five centres run by the health offices (Zentren für sexuelle Gesundheit und Familienplanung). They are open to everyone but mainly serve people without insurance or with limited German. They give information on sexually transmitted infections and offer anonymous testing if needed. You can also get advice on the HPV vaccine.
• Looking for a doctor who speaks your language: On Doctolib you can filter by language, for example Turkish.

Practical tips from women

• Ask at your routine check-up. When you go to your gynaecologist for a routine check-up, ask about the vaccine too. That way you don't need a separate appointment.
• Put all three doses in your calendar right away. Not finishing the series is the most common mistake.
• Act early for your child. If your child is over 9, talk to the paediatrician. Before age 14, two doses are enough.

This section will grow with the experiences of women in the BACIM community. If something has worked for you, you're welcome to share it.

Sources

• Call for HPV vaccination, March 2026 (Berlin Senate Department)
• Sexual health centres in Berlin (berlin.de)
• Cervical cancer screening from age 35 (G-BA, PDF)
• HPV vaccine reimbursement, ages 18–26 (TK)
• HPV vaccination (Barmer)

This guide is not a substitute for medical advice. Information checked as of October 2026.

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