Vaccination

The Higher Health Council recommends the HPV vaccine for people up to and including age 26. In Belgium, it is free or reimbursed for people up to and including age 30, and up to age 45 for those considered “high-risk” (people living with HIV, people who have undergone a stem cell transplant, and people awaiting an organ transplant).

It is recommended to get vaccinated as soon as possible, preferably before becoming sexually active. This is because the vaccine will be more effective if it is administered before the body is exposed to the various strains of the virus.

The most widely used vaccine in Belgium today is Gardasil 9, which protects against most HPV-related cancers and against the strains responsible for 90% of genital warts. The other available vaccine is Cervarix, which protects against the two strains that pose the highest risk of cervical cancer. 

The vaccine is administered in the arm and follows a 2-dose schedule (0–5 to 13 months). In some cases, a 3-dose schedule (0–2–6 months) may be recommended—for example, for immunocompromised individuals or those who engage in anal sex. Check with your doctor to find out which schedule to follow.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the safety of these vaccines. They are generally well tolerated by the body, and the side effects observed include pain or irritation at the injection site and, more rarely, headaches in the days that follow.

Fainting spells can also occur, but they are not caused by the injected medication; rather, they are caused by stress (such as a fear of needles).

Under the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s vaccination schedule, the vaccine is free for anyone, regardless of gender, between the ages of 13 and 14, in the first year of specialized secondary education or the second year of secondary school, through the school health program or at their doctor’s office.
General practitioners can order the vaccines free of charge and administer them to patients free of charge, provided that the first dose is administered no later than the day before the patient turns 31. 

If you are 31 or older, you will have to pay for the vaccine (except for people considered “high-risk”). Some health insurance plans offer partial reimbursement, so don’t hesitate to ask for more information. 

Gardasil 9: €132.34 per dose, or €264.68 for 2 doses and €397.02 for 3 doses.

Cervarix: €70.63 per dose, or €141.26 for 2 doses and €211.89 for 3 doses.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended in certain cases, where there is a higher risk of exposure to the virus.

---

Travelers  

The WHO recommends vaccination for all travellers to Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Near and Middle East. Even in Southern Europe, vaccination may be recommended in cases where hygiene conditions are uncertain, particularly if raw fish or seafood is consumed.

---

Professionals 

Recommended for :  

- Food chain workers,  

- Staff in crèches, schools, nursing homes, etc,  

- Clinical biology laboratory technicians,  

- Those in contact with wastewater,  

- Laundry staff.

---

Other risk groups 

- People with high-risk sexual practices,  

- Immunocompromised,  

- People with chronic liver disease,  

- Institutional residents,  

- Persons in contact with a hepatitis A patient,  

- Children of immigrants returning to their country of origin,  

- Persons in contact with a child recently adopted from an endemic country.

---

Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of infection. In Belgium, around 150 cases are recorded every year, with peaks such as in 2017 during a European epidemic. Thanks to good hygiene conditions, the majority of the Belgian population has never been exposed.

The hepatitis A vaccine is administered by injection, usually into the muscle, but sometimes under the skin.

- First dose: A single injection provides 100% protection for one year.

- Second dose: An additional injection 6 to 12 months later provides lifelong protection.

Even if it's been several years since the first dose, you can pick up where you left off without having to start all over again.

For travellers, it's best to get vaccinated two weeks before leaving for a high-risk area. However, even if you get vaccinated just before leaving, you'll have 70-90% protection for the first few weeks. The schedule can be completed later.

Finally, vaccination remains effective if carried out within a week of contact with a person infected by the virus.

Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for babies, certain at-risk groups, travelers to regions where the disease is common, and certain exposed professions.

---

Babies  

In Belgium, since 1999, all unvaccinated babies and adolescents have been systematically vaccinated against hepatitis B.

---

At-risk groups 

Vaccination is also recommended for :  

- Those who may receive blood transfusions or blood-derived medications (such as hemophiliacs or dialysis patients),

- People waiting for or who have undergone a transplant (organ, bone marrow, liver),

- People with profound mental disabilities,

- Teenagers aged 13 to 15 not yet vaccinated,

- Family members and roommates of a person with hepatitis B,

- People with multiple sexual partners or high-risk behaviors,

- Injecting or intranasal drug users,

- Those diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI),

- People suffering from chronic liver disease or diabetes (before age 60).

---

Travelers  

Travelers to regions where hepatitis B is common (Asia, Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Near and Middle East) should consider vaccination, especially if they are planning extended stays or risky activities such as extreme sports.

---

Professionals

In Belgium, since 1999, vaccination has been compulsory for healthcare professionals, including laboratory staff, nurses, doctors and those working in funeral services, if they are exposed to blood or a risk of contamination. This obligation does not apply to administrative staff.