In January each year, public health campaigns are launched in Croatia to encourage women to take care of their sexual health and undergo regular gynecological check-ups. This year, the Croatian Ministry of Health decided to leverage the focus on women's intimate health by announcing mandatory vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to cervical cancer. Changes to the Infectious Disease Protection Act are being considered to incorporate HPV vaccination into the mandatory vaccination calendar.

The government's intention is to ensure that all children, particularly those in elementary schools, are vaccinated as the onset of sexual activity places them at risk of becoming vectors for the spread of HPV. The proposed vaccination would use the nine-valent vaccine "Gardasil," which is designed to protect individuals before they become sexually active, thus aiming to reduce the incidence of diseases linked to HPV. This initiative is part of Croatia's broader focus on preventative health measures.

However, the proposed mandatory vaccination has sparked ideological debates surrounding medical intervention in the realm of personal health decisions. Critics, like Valerije Vrček, argue that this move may represent an overreach by the medical profession into individual liberties, suggesting that the decision to vaccinate should remain a personal choice rather than a government mandate. As Croatia navigates this public health issue, such ideological concerns are likely to influence the public's reception of the vaccination initiative and the broader discussion surrounding vaccination policies.