Provider Experience Recommending HPV Vaccination Before Age 11 Years

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is crucial for preventing HPV-related cancers.
• Current vaccination schedules often recommend HPV vaccination later in adolescence.
• Improving HPV vaccination coverage remains a public health priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore healthcare providers' experiences and perceptions of recommending the HPV vaccine before age 11.
• To assess the impact of an intervention aimed at increasing HPV vaccination coverage through earlier recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 30-minute interviews with 26 healthcare providers at 5 clinical sites.
• Interviews were conducted approximately one month after intervention completion (2016-2018).
• Thematic analysis of interview transcripts used both deductive and inductive approaches.

Main Results:

• Providers initially expressed skepticism about recommending HPV vaccination before age 11, fearing decreased parental acceptance.
• Providers uniformly reported high parental acceptance due to reduced stigma and fewer shots per visit.
• Early initiation of HPV vaccination increased series completion opportunities and reduced the need for recall programs.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers reported positive experiences recommending HPV vaccination before age 11.
• Routine recommendation before age 11 may enhance vaccination series completion and parental acceptance.
• This strategy offers advantages in reducing missed vaccination opportunities and addressing parental concerns.