How the HPV vaccine went viral on TikTok after its free availability was extended to age 26 / Why the vaccine is not actually „a dangerous policy”

The HPV vaccine has become a hot topic on the Romanian internet, particularly after the far-right S.O.S party declared in early May that it represents „a dangerous policy.” This discussion intensified shortly after Romania’s presidential elections, when it was announced that free HPV vaccination would be extended to girls and boys up to 26 years old.

The extremist S.O.S Romania party, led by Diana Șoșoacă, submitted a motion demanding not only the resignation of Health Minister Alexandru Rafila but also an investigation into „aggressive vaccination campaigns,” including the promotion of the HPV vaccine.

The motion submitted by the extremist S.O.S Romania party, led by Diana Șoșoacă, demanded, in addition to the resignation of Health Minister Alexandru Rafila, an investigation into „aggressive vaccination campaigns,” including the promotion of the HPV vaccine.

• „The aggressive promotion of the HPV vaccine in schools, without the informed consent of parents, without transparency regarding side effects, and without independent studies, raises major questions. Instead of protecting the health of young people in Romania, the HPV vaccine has been imposed as a national program without a proper evaluation of its long-term benefits. Mr. Rafila, you have allowed the health of adolescents to become a profitable business for large pharmaceutical manufacturers,” argued the S.O.S party in their motion, which was also signed by the other two far-right parties in parliament, AUR and POT.

This initiative by the three extremist parties became a subject of discussion on the Romanian internet, where NGOs like the FILIA Center firmly criticized the accusations made by S.O.S Romania. The NGO explained in a Facebook post how that discourse is „extremely dangerous, especially in the EU country with the highest incidence of cervical cancer.”

• „Far-right parties in Parliament that deny scientific arguments and use pseudoscience contribute catastrophically to the deaths of women. The lives of women and girls matter and must be protected by ensuring access to prevention and adequate medical care that responds to our needs„, the FILIA Center further declared on Facebook.

How the Topic Was Discussed on TikTok

Several discussions emerged on Romanian TikTok based on this topic. With the motion submitted by S.O.S Romania and signed by AUR and POT, reactions from young women also appeared, expressing their dissatisfaction and disappointment with this initiative. One of the most viral videos on this topic has over 16,000 likes and 126,000 views.

Another video posted shortly after the appearance of the motion against the Ministry of Health garnered over 130,000 likes and 2 million views. In the video posted on Romanian TikTok, a doctor in the operating room explains that a case of penile cancer, caused by HPV virus infection and neglected by the patient, led to the necessity of amputating the male reproductive organ.

The news published by ProTv on TikTok announcing that young people up to 26 years old can receive the free HPV vaccine has gathered over 79,000 likes, over 2.7 million views, and around 2,000 comments, where users debate whether this vaccine is „healthy.”

Another viral video on this topic has gathered over 42,000 likes and 595,000 views in less than a week. In the comments section of the video, users continue to debate whether the vaccine is „good” or not.

What is FILIA and What Does It Say About the Vaccine?

The FILIA Center is known for its educational campaigns on topics such as women’s safety, sexual education, as well as one of the educational campaigns on the topic of the HPV vaccine, conducted in 2019.

The association defines the HPV (human papillomavirus) as one that can cause an infection in the cervix. This virus is contracted either through direct contact or by simple touch. The NGO also emphasizes that a majority of the population contracts the HPV virus during their lifetime, but only a small number develop cervical cancer as a result.

Since December 1, 2023, women aged between 19 and 45 have benefited from HPV vaccination under a 50% compensated scheme, based on a compensated prescription issued by doctors through the health insurance fund, according to the Info.HPV website.

On May 19, 2024, the plenum of the Chamber of Deputies adopted a bill through which free HPV vaccination will be provided for girls and boys aged between 11 and 26, according to G4Media.

In this context, the FILIA Center, which also had an educational campaign on cervical cancer, argues that the HPV vaccine can prevent between 70% and 85% of cells that can become cancerous.

What makes this topic relevant on the internet at the moment are the statistics highlighted by the FILIA Center, which show that Romania is in first place in Europe for mortality due to this disease, and the risk of death is three times higher than the European average. Cervical cancer is the main cause of cancer mortality for women in Romania aged between 15 and 44, and the NGO claims that 6 women die daily from this cause.

What is the HPV Vaccine and Why Can It Save Lives?

The HPV vaccine is designed to prevent infections with the HPV virus, explained above, according to Filia. UNICEF shows that this vaccine can protect against HPV strains that cause up to 90% of cervical cancer cases.

UNICEF also explains that there are over 200 types of HPV, and the most worrying aspect is that most of them do not even present symptoms. It is important to note that high-risk HPV types can lead to persistent infections and the development of precancerous lesions, which is why prevention – such as vaccination – and regular screening are essential in the lives of both women and men.

The main target of the HPV virus is women, and in 2022, approximately 350,000 women died globally due to HPV-related cervical cancer.

Unfortunately, Romania is a leader in the European Union regarding cervical cancer cases. In 2023, 2,888 new cases of cervical cancer were registered and almost 1,200 women lost their lives as a result of this disease, according to INSP data, cited by Euronews.

The main benefit of HPV vaccination is that it protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. The second benefit would be that it reduces the risk of developing other types of cancer associated with HPV. Early administration of this vaccine, especially between the ages of 9 and 15 or before exposure to the virus, can save lives and contribute to reducing infections and precancerous lesions.

In the case of men, infection with the human papillomavirus can cause anal cancer as well as the development of genital warts, but in most cases, they never show symptoms. HPV vaccination among men will also help protect their partners.

The info.HPV website shows that administering the vaccine will not cure an already existing infection, but it can help prevent reinfection or infection with other HPV strains.