Vaccination against human papilloma virus in a Northeastern Italian area

Vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) in adolescents and persons at increased risk of infection and related consequences is an effective strategy to prevent genital cancers. The objective of this study was to assess vaccination activity and coverages in a Northeastern Italian area.

Anonymous data from various health administrative databases of the Italian 530,000-inhabitant Health Authority "Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale" were deterministically linked at the individual level through an anonymous stochastic key. Doses of HPV vaccine administered by year and coverages in different birth cohorts were calculated. Vaccinations of women treated for a CIN2+ lesion were also identified.

The number of doses administered by year followed the evolution of national and regional laws. A steep drop was observed in 2020 and 2021 in both males and females (from 6,907 in 2019 to 5,027 in 2020 in males and from 6,989 in 2019 to 4,348 in 2020 in females). Coverages in adolescents were variable across Vaccination Services located in different sub-areas (complete cycle coverage in the 2008 cohort ranged from <40% in some Districts to >70% in others). Vaccination doses administered in adult women have increased almost steadily since 2018. One third of women treated for a CIN2+ were vaccinated.

In this area, efforts must be done to catch-up with doses missed during the pandemic and to overcome differences among different sub-areas.