Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has adopted a new, expanded programme to prevent cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) set to run from 2025 to 2030.

The announcement, made during a joint press conference by the Ministry of Health and the Bulgarian HPV Coalition, marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to prevent at least six types of cancer – cervical, vaginal, vulval, anal, penile, and head & neck – which can be all caused by this one common virus. 

The new strategy will now offer free HPV vaccination not only to girls but to all boys and young adults.

This renewed commitment by the Bulgarian government aligns with wider EU objectives, including the European Commission’s call to eliminate HPV-related cancers as a public health threat by 2030.

This policy achievement builds on two years of sustained advocacy and collaboration between national stakeholders and international partners, including the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) and the national HPV Coalition. 

This activity has also included the landmark HPV South East Europe Conference held in Sofia three months ago, where health leaders, policymakers, researchers, and advocates from nine countries from the region, signed a joint declaration as a concrete commitment to eliminate cancers and other diseases connected to HPV.

Until now, Bulgaria’s vaccination strategy was limited to girls, despite growing evidence of the importance of gender-neutral vaccination in reducing transmission.

HPV vaccination uptake among girls was also alarmingly low: in 2023, the Bulgarian Ministry of Health reported it to be below 2% for those aged 9 to 14.

Under this new expanded plan, Bulgaria will provide free 9-valent HPV vaccination for girls, boys, and young adults over a phased period starting this year, to increase HPV vaccination coverage by 10% annually. The programme includes:

• 2025–2030: Girls aged 10–14
• 2025–2028: Boys aged 10–13
• 2026–2028: Girls aged 15–17
• 2029–2030: Women aged 18–21 and boys aged 10–14

‘This announcement today is a major development in prevention’, said Prof. Daniel Kelly, OBE, Co-Chair of ECO’s HPV and Hep B Action Network. ‘Lives will be saved and the suffering of cancer reduced. ECO’s campaigns in the region will continue to ensure that all young people - girls and boys- can access HPV vaccination. The effort now must be to ensure that the media, politicians, parents and health professionals in Bulgaria encourage HPV vaccine uptake. Only by addressing vaccine hesitancy will the full benefits of this expansion to all groups be realised.’

The European Cancer Organisation remains committed to working closely with the HPV Coalition in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Health, and all relevant stakeholders to support the programme's implementation.

To arrange a phone interview with ECO representatives or to know more about our HPV campaign, please contact:

Giuseppe Filiti
Communication Officer
European Cancer Organisation
giuseppe.filiti@europeancancer.org
Office telephone: +32 2 775 02 00 
Mobile: +32 485 86 12 54

Silvia Romeo
Policy Officer
European Cancer Organisation
silvia.romeo@europeancancer.org
Office telephone: +32 2 775 02 00 
Mobile: +32 478 94 20 25

Source: European Cancer Organisation