HPV vaccine in Ticino: new system from January 1, 2027

Context

TL;DR

• From 1 January 2027, access to the HPV vaccine changes
• Coverage shifts to compulsory health insurance
• For ages 11-26, direct access to a doctor
• In Ticino, over 38'000 people vaccinated over 17 years

Key facts

• Date → January 1, 2027
• Age → 11-26 years
• Program → cantonal HPV vaccination
• Coverage → mandatory health insurance
• Deductible → exempt for vaccination and consultation
• Tally → more than 38'000 people vaccinated
• 2025 data → 3'355 first doses, average age 14

From 2027, the new pathway

From January 1, 2027, the cantonal vaccination program against human papillomavirus will end in Ticino, but vaccination will not. The change was presented in Bellinzona by Giorgio Merlani, Ticino's cantonal physician, with one key point: it is not the Canton’s decision to stop paying for the vaccine.

This is a change decided at federal level: a cantonal program is no longer required for coverage by mandatory insurance. After 17 years of activity, the program becomes part of the ordinary system of recommended vaccinations.

From 2027, people between the ages of 11 and 26 can access vaccination more easily: they no longer have to go through a physician from the Cantonal Program and can go directly to a pediatrician, family doctor or any other physician in private practice. The organizational pathway therefore changes, while vaccination remains available.

The Canton will no longer manage vaccination directly, but will continue to support information and promotion. This support is aimed in particular at health professionals, adolescents and their families.

As for costs, mandatory health insurance will cover vaccination. HPV vaccination and the associated consultation, like other recommended vaccinations, will be exempt from the deductible. The percentage share provided for by health insurance will not change, however.

The tally for the 17 years also gives a measure of the activity: since the program began, more than 38'000 people have been vaccinated in Ticino. This vaccination prevents numerous forms of cancer. In 2025, 3'355 people received a first dose, with an average age of 14.

Operational details

Doses, coverage and uptake

Schedule by age

The number of recommended doses depends on the age at which vaccination begins. The guidance for the new pathway is as follows:

For those who start vaccination between ages 11 and 14, the recommended course comprises two doses, to be administered over a period of at least six months. If vaccination is started between ages 15 and 26, three doses are called for instead, to be completed over six months. Available scientific evidence does not indicate a need for booster doses.

The age at which vaccination is started is the first factor to consider when planning the course. The conclusion of the cantonal programme does not change these recommendations: it changes the route through which vaccination is accessed, which from 2027 no longer necessarily goes through a programme doctor.

The level of uptake is evident from the available data: in 2024, 71% of 16-year-old girls and 58% of 16-year-old boys had received two doses. According to the source, in both groups uptake exceeded the Swiss average recorded during the 2023-2025 period.

For the country, the goal is vaccination coverage between 80% and 90%, which should help reduce the disease burden and infection rates. The figure for 16-year-olds and this target refer to different levels: the former quantifies, within a specific age group, the proportion of people with two doses; the latter defines the coverage level to be achieved.

From an organisational perspective, the choice between a paediatrician, a family doctor or another doctor in private practice broadens the points of access. From a financial perspective, exemption from the deductible applies to both HPV vaccination and the consultation, while the percentage contribution provided for by health insurance remains in place.

Key points

Operational steps from January 1, 2027

A four-step procedure

1. Identify the age group. The first factor to consider is the age at which vaccination begins: between 11 and 14 years of age, two doses are recommended; between 15 and 26 years of age, three.

2. Choose the doctor. From January 1, 2027, it will no longer be necessary to consult a doctor in the Cantonal Programme. Access will be possible directly through one's paediatrician, family doctor or any other physician in private practice.

3. Organize the doses. For the 11-14 age group, the two administrations must be spread over at least six months. For the 15-26 age group, the three doses must be administered over six months.

4. Consider coverage. The vaccination and related consultation will be covered by compulsory health insurance. They will be exempt from the deductible, but the percentage contribution provided for by health insurance will remain unchanged.

The procedure described by the new organization therefore starts with the age group and continues with the choice of professional. No additional administrative step is indicated: the announced change concerns precisely the possibility of accessing the chosen doctor directly, without going through the cantonal programme.

After completion of the recommended doses, current scientific knowledge does not indicate the need for boosters. This element also makes it possible to view the process in a linear way: the number of doses and interval depend on the age at which vaccination begins, while no additional booster doses are planned according to the indications provided.

The Canton will nevertheless retain a role in informing about and promoting vaccination, with a focus on healthcare professionals, adolescents and their families. Direct management will pass to the ordinary system, while the Canton's information activities will continue.

For more information about how health insurance works, consult the comparatore cassa malati.

Source: tio.ch