European Union Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides announced last Tuesday evening that the European Commission will present proposals to EU member states today, Wednesday, on how to vaccinate more people against human papillomavirus.

Human papillomaviruses are transmitted sexually and can cause cervical cancer, oral and throat cancer, and penile cancer.

The European Commission aims to vaccinate 90% of eligible girls and a significant percentage of boys against human papillomavirus by 2030. It is also hoped that early detection rates of the virus will improve.

Kyriakides, who herself had cancer, said, "Less than 50% of women aged 50 to 69, the age group targeted by screening programs, have undergone mammography in the past two years."

The EU Health Commissioner added, "It is difficult to ask people to change their lifestyle."

Kyriakides said, "But that does not mean not trying, and it should be done without frightening people."

An analysis published last November by the German health insurance company DAK indicated that vaccinations against certain types of cancer are declining among children and adolescents in Germany. This is especially evident among boys aged 15 to 17 years, according to an analysis of policyholders of the company's health insurance documents.

The German Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine said the vaccination rate is "worryingly low."

According to the Robert Koch Institute, more than 6,000 women and about 1,600 men are diagnosed with cancer related to human papillomavirus annually in Germany.