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Coverage from Ontario, Canada's school-based HPV vaccine program: the first three years.
Sarah E Wilson1, Tara Harris, Pam Sethi
1Public Health Ontario, Canada. sarah.wilson@oahpp.ca
Vaccine
|December 19, 2012
Summary
Ontario’s school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program coverage increased over three years, but remained below the 80% benchmark. Data collection challenges mean actual HPV vaccine uptake may be underestimated.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ontario initiated a school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in 2007 for grade 8 girls.
- Extended eligibility allowed completion of the HPV vaccine series in grade 9.
- Provincial data limitations necessitated surveys of Health Units (HUs) to assess early program coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calculate provincial HPV vaccine coverage for the first three years of Ontario's program.
- To evaluate the utility of Health Unit (HU) surveys for vaccine coverage assessment.
- To compare HU-reported coverage with provincial data sources.
Main Methods:
- Two surveys of 36 Ontario Health Units (HUs) were conducted in 2011.
- Vaccine coverage data, denominator sources, and information system usage were collected.
- HU-reported coverage was compared against the Immunization Records Information System (IRIS) and HPV reimbursement database.
Main Results:
- All 36 HUs participated; provincial coverage estimates were 51% (2007-08), 58% (2008-09), and 59% (2009-10).
- Coverage increased significantly over time, with greater HU capacity to report extended eligibility doses.
- Significant discrepancies were found between survey, IRIS, and reimbursement database coverage estimates.
Conclusions:
- Incomplete reporting of extended eligibility doses suggests true HPV vaccine coverage is likely underestimated.
- While below the 80% benchmark, the observed upward trend in coverage is positive.
- Class/school lists were common denominator sources, but excluded independent schools.
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