Factors Associated with HPV Vaccine Uptake in College Students Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Most cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) are preventable through vaccination, yet uptake among U.S. college students remains below national targets. This study examined HPV vaccination rates and factors associated with vaccine uptake among students aged 18-26 years at a large, diverse public university in New York State following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2022, an online survey was distributed to 19,351 students aged 18-26 years; responses were received from 708 students (~4%) and included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of HPV vaccination.

Overall, 59% of students reported receiving at least one HPV vaccine dose, while 17.7% were unsure of their vaccination status. Among students whose healthcare provider recommended the HPV vaccine, 76.4% were vaccinated compared to 16.7% without one (p < 0.001). Healthcare provider recommendation was the strongest predictor of vaccination (OR 17.9; 95% CI: 8.45-37.91). Additional factors significantly associated with uptake included agreement that the HPV vaccine is safe (OR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.54-4.27), importance of a sexual partner being vaccinated (OR 2.65; 95% CI: 1.90-3.69), and valuing family opinion (OR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.23-2.26). Students most preferred receiving HPV information from healthcare providers (73.4%), followed by Internet searches (51.8%) and social media (35.1%).

HPV vaccination uptake among college students remains below national targets. Strengthening provider recommendations, addressing safety concerns, and implementing multimodal education strategies during preventive visits for young adults are essential to improve coverage and reduce HPV-related cancer risk.