Implementing HPV Vaccination Services in People Living with HIV in Trinidad and Tobago: A Brief Report

Globally, Caribbean countries are among the most heavily burdened by both human immunodeficiency virus and cancer. Due to their immunocompromised status, people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are more susceptible to human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers.

We conducted a preliminary study evaluating HPV vaccination rates targeting PLWH in Trinidad and Tobago using data from local clinics. This study provided descriptive analysis results, including demographic characteristics of enrolled PLWH and HPV vaccination rates.

A total of 5,615 PLWH (age ranged from 18 to 51 years, with 51.4% women and 48.6% men) were enrolled in this evaluation. Of these, 1,178 patients (21.0%) received HPV vaccines: 22.8% were vaccinated with one dose, 25.6% were vaccinated with two doses, and 51.6% were vaccinated with three doses. The highest uptake of 22.3% was in 2021, followed by 20.1% in 2022, but in 2023, it dropped to 15.5%. Between 2018 and 2020, the uptakes were 13.6% for 2020, 12.7% for 2019, and 5.7% for 2018.

Overall, the HPV vaccination rates among PLWH in Trinidad and Tobago are low; only one in five was vaccinated.

Results suggest that by implementing comprehensive and targeted programs, clinics have the potential to successfully implement HPV vaccinations toward significantly reducing the incidence and mortality of HPV-related cancers and saving lives. There is a trend with the highest vaccination uptake during the peak years of COVID-19 vaccinations, with HPV vaccination rates almost doubling between 2019 and 2021. Hence, our data suggest that the COVID-19 vaccination program may have boosted HPV vaccination.