Share love, not disease – HPV vaccination for students

The Student Health Centre in Ljubljana is joining the HPV vaccination campaign for students “Share love, not disease”. On Tuesday, 4 March 2025, a vaccination day against HPV will take place. Registration is required.

What should I know about HPV?

HPV stands for human papillomaviruses. It is a large group of viruses, and infections with certain types of HPV cause six types of cancer in men and women, precancerous changes and genital warts. Cancers caused by HPV infections include cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer and cancer of the oropharynx. Around 200 people in Slovenia develop cancers caused by HPV infections each year. In addition, around 1,600 women in Slovenia undergo surgical treatment each year due to precancerous changes of the cervix.

HPV is transmitted through close contact of the skin or mucous membranes, for example during sexual activity (any form). Even more intimate physical contact of any kind, such as caressing, rubbing or touching with hands, can be enough for transmission. The use of condoms does not completely prevent HPV infection. Because HPV infection often causes no symptoms, many people are not aware that they have it and may unknowingly transmit it to others.

HPV infection is very common – around 90 percent of sexually active people become infected with the virus at least once in their lifetime. Because HPV is so widespread, most people become infected soon after the start of sexual activity, which is why infection rates are highest among adolescents and young adults aged 15–25.

HPV infections can be prevented by vaccination. Vaccination is the most effective and safest way to prevent HPV infection. Vaccination is routinely carried out in the sixth grade of primary school, but it is also available free of charge through compulsory health insurance for all young people who have not yet reached the age of 26.

We therefore invite all students and young people under the age of 26 who are not yet protected against HPV to take part in the vaccination campaign, which will take place on 4 March 2025 in five health centres across the country, including the Student Health Centre in Ljubljana.

More information about HPV and vaccination is available at the following link: https://nijz.si/nalezljive-bolezni/hpv-mali-virus-velike-posledice-kako-se-zasciti-pred-okuzbo/

Where can I register for vaccination?

You can register for vaccination from 18 February to 3 March 2025 in the VIS system, which is connected to the doZdravnika application.

Instructions are available at: https://dozdravnika.si/help/vis

When and where will the vaccination take place?

Location: Student Health Centre, Aškerčeva cesta 4, Ljubljana
Time: 4 March 2025 between 7:00 and 19:00

What should I bring with me?

Please bring the following to the vaccination appointment:

• health insurance card
• vaccination booklet

Please come to the vaccination healthy. If you become ill or cannot attend the vaccination appointment for any reason, please cancel your appointment as soon as possible through the application so that the slot can be made available to another student.

About the campaign “Share love, not disease”

The campaign “Share love, not disease” is the first nationwide joint HPV vaccination campaign for the student population in Slovenia. It takes place on 4 March 2025, the International HPV Awareness Day. The campaign involves health centres in university cities across the country – the Student Health Centre in Ljubljana and health centres in Maribor, Nova Gorica, Koper and Novo mesto. The initiative is led and organized by the National Institute of Public Health, with the student medical associations’ projects Imuno and Vakcinet also participating in the organization. More information about the campaign is available at the following link: https://nijz.si/nalezljive-bolezni/seraj-ljubezen-ne-bolezen-akcija-cepljenja-studentov-proti-hpv/.