Question

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is perhaps the most common STI in the United States and certain types of HPV cause cervical, anal, penile, and throat cancers. Vaccine against certain HPV types are now available and recommended for adolescent boys and girls. Discuss the concerns regarding the vaccine that have contributed to low uptake of HPV vaccine among U.S. adolescents?

Answer 1

Introduction:

HPV is Human Papilloma Virus can cause cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers in women and penile cancer in men. It can also cause anal cancer, throat cancer and genital warts in both men and women.

HPV vaccine are given for preteen boys and girls aged 11 or 12 years, so they are protected before being exposed to the virus and also to the adolescent aged groups. Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) protect against cervical cancers in women. Gardasil also protects against genital warts and cancers of the anus, vagina, and vulva. Both vaccines are available for females; only Gardasil is available for males. HPV vaccines are given as a series of three shots over six months.

The concerns regarding the vaccine that have contributed to low uptake of HPV vaccine among U.S. adolescents are:

• Parents often say that they need more information before vaccinating their children.
• Many parents who got their children vaccinated saying they did so because a doctor recommended it without knowing the actual reason.
• Health care providers often said parents’ concerns and the cost of vaccination made it difficult to provide the HPV vaccine.
• Many parents and health care providers didn’t see a need to vaccinate boys.
• Parents whose children start the HPV vaccine series may forget or might not be aware that their children need to receive three separate doses of the vaccine.

Perceived barriers to vaccination are categorized as:

• Healthcare professionals: attitudes of the parents, financial concerns, knowledge gaps.
• Parents and caregivers: lack of knowledge, vaccine cost, low perceived risk for HPV infection, concerns about vaccine safety.
• Underserved or disadvantaged populations: limited knowledge about the vaccine, cultural differences, insurance coverage, immigration status.
• Males: lack of knowledge about HPV risk in this population.