Identifying HPV vaccination research priorities for the US

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Increasing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage among US children aged 9-12 years is a critical public health goal.
• Identifying research priorities is essential for guiding funders and researchers toward impactful strategies.
• Current HPV vaccination rates require focused research to identify effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize key research areas for enhancing HPV vaccine uptake in US children aged 9-12 years.
• To inform research agendas and funding allocations for HPV vaccination initiatives.
• To guide the development of evidence-based strategies for improving HPV immunization rates.

Main Methods:

• A two-survey methodology was employed, involving researchers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders.
• Survey 1 involved 60 participants who reviewed and suggested research topics, resulting in a list of 38.
• Survey 2 included 230 participants who ranked their top ten research priorities from the refined list.

Main Results:

• The top research priorities identified were misinformation (50%), initiating vaccination at age 9 (48%), and single-dose efficacy (48%).
• Other significant priorities included vaccine communication (40%), system-wide approaches (39%), community settings (39%), immunization registries (38%), geography/rurality (37%), school mandates (37%), and HPV cancer elimination (37%).
• Respondents' focus varied across themes, with 'alternative settings' receiving the highest proportion of selections (32%).

Conclusions:

• The identified research priorities offer a roadmap for optimizing resource allocation in HPV vaccine research.
• Focusing on these areas can lead to impactful strategies, evidence-based interventions, and informed policymaking.
• These priorities are crucial for enhancing HPV vaccination coverage and ultimately reducing HPV-related cancer incidence.