Adolescent and young adult HPV vaccination in Australia: Achievements and challenges

Australia commenced an ongoing school based government funded human papillomaviruses (HPV) (cervical cancer prevention) vaccination program in April 2007 for adolescent females aged 12–13 years. In addition, up to December 31, 2009, a catch-up program for young females 13–26 years of age was offered: a school-based vaccination program was used to offer HPV vaccine to girls enrolled in school (14–17 years), and general practitioners or other community health provider offered vaccine to young women aged 18–26 years. To date, only the quadrivalent vaccine (HPV 6/11/16/18) has been utilized in the funded program. Acceptance of the vaccine is high with coverage of 3 doses of the HPV vaccine in the school age cohort around 70%, and just over 30% in the older age cohort. Since the vaccination program was initiated, a reduction in new cases of genital warts of 73% among vaccine eligible age females has been evidenced in STI clinics across Australia. A reduction of 44% of new cases in young males (not a part of the free program) was also documented during this same time period, suggesting significant herd immunity. Similarly, in the state of Victoria, a small but significant decrease in high grade abnormalities in Pap screening findings has been reported in young women < 18 years for the period 2007–9, as compared to pre-vaccination. Challenges for the future include how we can sustain and improve HPV vaccination coverage in young Australian women, while maintaining cervical cancer screening participation and reviewing cervical cancer screening methods.     

Vaccinating young adults against human papillomavirus: the importance of understanding health decision-making and behaviour

Vaccination of young teenage females against human papillomavirus (HPV) with a newly licenced quadrivalent vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts has recently been recommended by the Australian government and will be implemented through schools from April 2007. In addition, a fully funded 'catch-up' vaccination program for young women up to age 26 years has been approved for a 2-year period, from July 2007. As general practitioners (GPs) will be the main immunisation providers for this age group, in order to achieve high vaccination coverage and maximal impact on disease, it will be critical for GPs to be opportunistic in recommending this vaccine. An initial study of young Australians' attitudes towards HPV vaccination and hypothetical acceptance of the vaccine was published in this journal. We draw on this study and data published elsewhere to discuss issues of HPV vaccine acceptability, and the likely challenges of a mass vaccination initiative in this age group in Australia. We suggest specific strategies to support GPs, and highlight areas for further research in HPV vaccine acceptability.     

Catching up with the catch-up: HPV vaccination coverage data for Australian women aged 18-26 years from the National HPV Vaccination Program Register

This report describes human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage data for Australian women 18-26 years of age, as notified to the National Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Program Register. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of notifications to the Register of HPV vaccine doses delivered as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program, which provided free catch-up vaccination to women 18-26 years of age across Australia between 2007 and 2009. HPV vaccination coverage estimates were calculated by age, state or territory of residence and dose number, using the Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates as the denominator. As at March 2011, approximately 4.49 million doses had been notified to the Register of females of all ages, and 1.7 million of these were for women aged 18-26 years in 2007. Vaccination coverage was highest for females aged 18 years and lowest in females aged 26 years. For the entire 18-26 years cohort, coverage was estimated at 55.2% for dose 1, 44.8% for dose 2 and 31.7% for dose 3. Notified dose 1 coverage rates by single year of age and state or territory ranged between 22% for females aged 26 years in the Northern Territory and 76% in females aged 18 years in Queensland, with dose 1 coverage highest across the age range in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. These data suggest that over half of Australian women aged 18-26 years commenced HPV vaccine courses and about one-third are fully vaccinated. Some of the differences in the coverage observed between states and territories likely reflect differing mechanisms for notifying to the Register.     

Knowledge, attitude and practice in primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention among young adult Italian women

In Italy since 2007 vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is offered to 11-year-old females, whereas vaccination for older age groups is still a matter of debate. To assess Italian young women's knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention a cross-sectional study among young women aged 18-26 years was conducted in 2008. The survey collected information on in-depth awareness and knowledge regarding Pap testing, HPV infection, HPV vaccine and cervical cancer. The response rate was 57.7% with a wide range of variability (34-84%) amongst local health units. Among 667 women who participated in the survey poor awareness and various misconceptions regarding HPV and cervical cancer prevention were detected. Overall women were found to be more knowledgeable about Pap smears and cervical cancer than about HPV infection and the HPV vaccine. Respondents pointed to their healthcare providers as their most trusted source for medical information. Understanding women's knowledge on cervical cancer prevention, as well as related factors is important in helping to achieve and maintain adherence to cervical cancer preventive strategies. Moreover in order to minimize cervical cancer risk by improving women's adherence to preventive strategies, appropriate and adequate information dissemination, and guidance from health professionals appear to be crucial elements.     

Challenges, lessons learned and results following the implementation of a human papilloma virus school vaccination program in South Australia

Objective: To describe the process and challenges in the roll out of a large cervical cancer vaccination program to protect against human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
Methods: This article describes the process of planning and implementing a HPV vaccination program using the existing state-wide framework that supports vaccine delivery to all 219 high schools in South Australia. The decision was made to offer three doses of HPV vaccine to 50,191 female students in Years 8-12 during the 2007 school year.
Results: By November 2007, despite many challenges, the school vaccination program had delivered 107,541 doses of HPV vaccine. Coverage of dose 1 was highest in Years 8 (83%) and 10 (70%), but was reduced for doses 2 and 3 in all year levels, with dose 3 coverage ranging from 55% (Year 11) to 77% (Year 8).
Conclusions: The introduction of a large school-based vaccination program at short notice posed new challenges for the co-ordination and implementation. Not all schools supported the introduction of HPV vaccine, resulting in reduced access for some students. Negative media messages provided a strong platform for individuals who opposed vaccination. These factors may have contributed to the less-than-expected uptake of HPV vaccine.
Implications: Historically, there has been high uptake of other vaccines given to adolescents. However, the introduction of HPV vaccine may have adversely affected the uptake of Hepatitis B vaccine, given concurrently in the school program. Further studies are needed to determine if this is likely to have a negative effect on the public perception of the value of vaccine programs in general.     

Decline in prevalence of human papillomavirus infection following vaccination among Australian Indigenous women,a population at higher risk of cervical cancer: The VIP-I study

BackgroundCervical cancer occurrence and mortality are strongly correlated with socioeconomic disadvantage, largely due to unequal access to screening and treatment. Universal human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination provides the opportunity to greatly reduce this global health disparity. Australian Indigenous women have substantially higher rates of cervical cancer than non-Indigenous women, primarily due to under-screening. We investigated HPV infection rates in Indigenous women 7 years after implementation of the national HPV vaccination program.MethodsWe used a repeat cross-sectional design, with the baseline being provided by an HPV prevalence survey among Indigenous women attending clinics for cervical cytology screening, prior to the start of the vaccination program in 2007. We returned to clinics in four locations during 2014–15, and invited women aged 18–26 years attending for screening to provide a cervical specimen for HPV testing, as well as to complete a short questionnaire and consent to allow access of their records in the National HPV Vaccination Program Register. We used well-established laboratory methods to test specimens for specific HPV genotypes.ResultsA total of 142 women were recruited at participating sites and compared to 155 who had been recruited at the same locations in the 2007 pre-vaccine survey. The two groups were identical in regard to age, with the more recent group having a higher proportion of hormonal contraception users, and a lower proportion of smokers. The proportion found to have any HPV type fell from 58 to 36% with the decline being entirely due to reductions in vaccine types, which fell by 94% from 24 to 1.4%.ConclusionAustralia’s national HPV vaccination program appears to be successfully protecting a very high proportion of Indigenous women against vaccine targeted HPV types, who have in the past been at elevated risk of cervical cancer.     

HPV vaccination coverage and willingness to be vaccinated among 18–30 year-old students in Italy

ObjectivesIn Italy, free HPV vaccination has been offered to 12 years-old girls since 2007, while for males only since 2015. The aims of our study were: to measure HPV vaccination coverage among young women; to assess willingness to receive HPV vaccination among unvaccinated males and females; to evaluate the association of coverage and attitudes with knowledge regarding HPV and with sexual behavior.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in an Italian region among 18–30 year-old students attending medical and healthcare professions schools. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire exploring knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to HPV infections, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention. Information on vaccination status was also verified for each student through the immunization records provided by the participants during the occupational medical visit.Results517 students were enrolled, with a 97% response rate. Of female participants, 40.5% had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine, while among unvaccinated participants, 60.5% stated their willingness to be vaccinated. A negative attitude towards HPV vaccination was associated with an older age, whereas a correct knowledge that both sexes are at risk of HPV infection, and the knowledge that vaccine protects against cervical cancer were confirmed to be associated to a willingness to receive HPV vaccination.ConclusionsOur results showed low HPV vaccination coverage among young women and high reported willingness to receive vaccination among both sexes. More active education on the link between HPV and all related cancers could be beneficial to help prevent significant burden of the HPV-related diseases.     

Estimating the long-term effects of HPV vaccination in Germany

In Germany, vaccination against the most oncogenic HPV types 16/18 is recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) for 12–17 year old girls since March 2007. We developed a dynamic mathematical model for the natural history and transmission of HPV infections to estimate the impact of vaccination on incidence and mortality of cervical cancer and its pre-stages, and on anogenital warts. We focused on an extensive model calibration to epidemiologic data for all stages of the natural history model as well as on a detailed implementation of cervical cancer screening modalities in Germany. Our model predicts first a substantial reduction of cervical cancer incidence and mortality over the next 30 years, which is mainly attributable to an increase in screening participation in the 1990s and not to HPV vaccination, followed by a further reduction attributable to vaccination. Over the next 100 years, HPV vaccination will prevent approximately 37% of cervical cancer cases even if vaccination coverage is only 50% (as currently observed in Germany). Consideration of cross-protection results in a further reduction of approximately 7% of all cervical cancer cases for the bivalent and about 5% for the quadrivalent vaccine in our model. Vaccination of boys was only reasonable if moderate to high vaccination coverage in girls was not achieved. Strategies should be implemented in Germany to increase HPV vaccination coverage among girls thereby making better use of the demonstrated benefits of the vaccine.     

Implementation of an HPV-Vaccination Program

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can lead to the development of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer-related cause of death in women in the world. The availability of HPV vaccines provides a new and exciting opportunity for cervical cancer prevention.Currently available phase II and III trial data suggest that HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection with HPV-16 and -18, the two types responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers worldwide.In order to determine how best to successfully implement a vaccination program, there are a number of factors that need to be considered in addition to vaccine efficacy. These include the choice of a disease endpoint, the duration of vaccine efficacy, the HPV types included in the vaccine, vaccine costs, vaccine coverage, and how the availability of an effective vaccination program may affect screening for those countries that have a successful screening program in place.For settings in which screening is already in place, there will need to be a careful consideration of new approaches to screening, including screening less frequently and using new screening tests or strategies. For settings that have a high burden of cervical cancer but that have not implemented screening, additional trial and registry data that not only confirm the initial results showing high efficacy but also show significant reductions in pre-cancer, and ultimately cancer, will provide reassurance that a decision to implement an HPV vaccination program is sound.     

Prevention of cervical cancer in rural China: evaluation of HPV vaccination and primary HPV screening strategies

Comprehensive evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination in China has not previously been performed. The objective of this study was to evaluate vaccination as an alternative or addition to primary HPV screening with careHPV (Qiagen, Gaithersburg, USA), and to assess the threshold total cost per vaccinated girl (CVG) at which strategies involving vaccination would become viable compared to screening-only strategies in rural China. We used data from field studies in Shanxi Province to support modelling of HPV vaccination and screening, including local information on sexual behaviour, HPV prevalence, test accuracy, treatment protocols and costs. We evaluated several strategies involving screening once or twice per lifetime or at regular 5-yearly intervals, with or without vaccination of young females at age 15 years, assuming 70% coverage for both screening and vaccination. We also predicted cross-sectional cancer incidence each year to the year 2050 for a range of strategies. We found that strategies involving vaccination would be cost-effective at CVGs of US$50-54 or less, but at CVGs >$54, screening-only strategies would be more cost-effective. If vaccination of young cohorts is combined with two rounds of careHPV screening for women aged 30-59 years in 2012 and 2027, a predicted indicative 33% reduction in cervical cancer incidence by 2030 would be sustained until 2050, with incidence rates decreasing thereafter. In conclusion, taking into account estimated vaccine delivery costs (for 3 doses), a per-dose HPV vaccine cost of approximately <$9-14 would be required for strategies involving vaccination to be cost-effective. Overall, combined screening and vaccination approaches are required to maximise outcomes in rural China.     

Monitoring Effect of Human Papillomavirus Vaccines in US Population,Emerging Infections Program, 2008–2012

In 2007, five Emerging Infections Program (EIP) sites were funded to determine the feasibility of establishing a population-based surveillance system for monitoring the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine on pre-invasive cervical lesions. The project involved active population-based surveillance of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3 and adenocarcinoma in situ as well as associated HPV types in women >18 years of age residing in defined catchment areas; collecting relevant clinical information and detailed HPV vaccination histories for women 18–39 years of age; and estimating the annual rate of cervical cancer screening among the catchment area population. The first few years of the project provided key information, including data on HPV type distribution, before expected effect of vaccine introduction. The project’s success exemplifies the flexibility of EIP’s network to expand core activities to include emerging surveillance needs beyond acute infectious diseases. Project results contribute key information regarding the impact of HPV vaccination in the United States.     

High-risk HPV prevalence among women undergoing cervical cancer screening: Findings a decade after HPV vaccine implementation in British Columbia,Canada

BackgroundBritish Columbia (BC) introduced a publicly funded, school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program in 2008 with the quadrivalent vaccine. In 2010/2011, a baseline evaluation of HPV prevalence was conducted among women undergoing cervical cancer screening. After 10 years of publicly funded HPV vaccination, HPV-type prevalence was re-evaluated.MethodsFrom August 2017 to March 2018, 1107 physicians were invited to return cytobrushes used during routine Pap screening to the Cervical Cancer Screening Laboratory for HPV testing. Only age or year of birth was collected. Specimens were screened for high-risk HPV (hrHPV) and positive samples were genotyped. HPV type prevalence was compared for females 15–22 yrs (those eligible for the school-based vaccination) and 23+ yrs (ineligible for school-based vaccination) for the 2010/2011 and the 2017/2018 data.ResultsThere were 3309 valid samples received for testing; of these, 3107 were included in the analysis. The overall hrHPV prevalence was 12.2% (95% CI 11.3–13.3) in 2010/11, and 12.0% (95% CI 10.9–13.2) in 2017/18. For the 15–22 age group, the prevalence for any hrHPV was 26.8% (95% CI 23.1–30.8) in 2010/11 and 25.4% (95% CI 15.3–37.9) in 2017/18. For those aged 15–22, HPV16 prevalence in 2010/11 was 8.8% (95% CI 6.5–11.5) and in 2017/18 was 6.3% (95% CI 1.8–15.5), with corresponding figures for HPV18 3.7% (95% CI 2.3–5.7) and 0% (95% CI 0.0–5.7), respectively. For all hrHPV types, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2010/11 and 2017/18 periods.ConclusionsThis study illustrates the prevalence of hrHPV in BC over time in women undergoing cervical cancer screening, where an indication of a decline in HPV16/18 is seen in vaccine eligible women.     

Cost-effectiveness of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Mexico: a transmission dynamic model-based evaluation

We examined the potential health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) 6/11/16/18 vaccination strategies in the Mexican population using a multi-HPV type dynamic transmission model. Assuming similar cervical screening practices, with or without vaccination, we examined the incremental cost-effectiveness of vaccination strategies for 12 year-old females, with or without male vaccination, and temporary age 12-24 catch-up vaccination for females or both sexes. The most effective strategy therein was vaccination of 12-year-olds, plus a temporary 12-24-year-old catch-up program covering both sexes; whereby HPV 6/11/16/18-related cervical cancer, high-grade cervical precancer, and genital wart incidence was reduced by 84-98% during year 50 following vaccine introduction. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios in the primary analyses ranged from approximately 3000 dollars (U.S.) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for female vaccination strategies to approximately 16000 dollars /QALY for adding male vaccination with catch-up.     

Inter-state variation in human papilloma virus vaccine coverage among adolescent girls in the 50 US states, 2007

Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination could substantially reduce the burden of cervical cancer by preventing HPV infection. This study uses the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) to estimate HPV vaccine coverage prevalence for US girls aged 12-17, the target group for vaccination. NSCH is a population-based telephone survey of households with children younger than 18 years. The proportion of girls aged 12-17 whose parent or guardian reported receipt of a clinician recommendation for HPV vaccination, one or more does of HPV vaccine, or a complete three-dose HPV vaccine series were estimated. Multivariable models estimated adjusted associations and marginal predicted vaccine coverage prevalence for each of the 50 US states and according to race/ethnicity, household income, insurance status, parental education, and whether the girl had a 'medical home'. The NSCH sample included 17,264 girls aged 12-17. Overall 18.2 % (SE 0.8 %) of girls reportedly received at least one HPV vaccine dose and 3.6 % (SE 0.4 %) completed the series; 31 % received clinician recommendation for HPV vaccine. Girls who received a clinician recommendation to vaccinate were 23 (95 % CI 18-29) times as likely to be vaccinated as those not counseled. There was substantial interstate variation in vaccine coverage that was largely explained by variability in clinician counseling. For 2007, there was substantial variation in HPV vaccine coverage among US girls 12-17 years that was largely explained by variability in clinician counseling. Strategies aimed at increasing clinicians' counseling for HPV vaccination could substantially reduce disparities in HPV vaccine coverage.     

Moving forward: human papillomavirus vaccination and the prevention of cervical cancer

In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The vaccine was subsequently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for routine vaccination of 11-12-year-old girls and catch-up vaccination of females 13-26 years of age. With the approval of the first HPV vaccine, cervical cancer now has a primary prevention tool. However, the availability of an HPV vaccine will not change the course of cervical cancer in this country unless there is both widespread demand by and access for the targeted populations. Demand will require recognition of the need for protection against HPV infection as well as a positive perception of the vaccine as safe and efficacious. General knowledge of HPV and its relationship to cervical cancer is limited; some parents and healthcare providers are hesitant to vaccinate preadolescent girls. Access to the expensive vaccine will not be increased without addressing financial constraints. Although the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has added HPV to its vaccine plan, not all private insurers have approved coverage, and the uninsured and underinsured may have limited access. Moving forward will require a well-planned and executed public information campaign by trusted sources and the development of a comprehensive vaccine administration program. Although mandates would assure the broadest coverage, controversies surrounding mandates may deter work toward broad coverage. States should focus on developing a comprehensive program and then return to the mandate issue if coverage does not meet public health objectives.     

Human papilloma virus (HPV) prophylactic vaccination: challenges for public health and implications for screening

Prophylactic vaccination against high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 and 18 represents an exciting means of protection against HPV related malignancy. However, this strategy alone, even if there is a level of cross protection against other oncogenic viruses, cannot completely prevent cervical cancer. In some developed countries cervical screening programmes have reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by up to 80% although this decline has now reached a plateau with current cancers occurring in patients who have failed to attend for screening or where the sensitivity of the tests have proved inadequate. Cervical screening is inevitably associated with significant anxiety for the many women who require investigation and treatment following abnormal cervical cytology. However, it is vitally important to stress the need for continued cervical screening to complement vaccination in order to optimise prevention in vaccinees and prevent cervical cancer in older women where the value of vaccination is currently unclear. It is likely that vaccination will ultimately change the natural history of HPV disease by reducing the influence of the highly oncogenic types HPV 16 and 18. In the long term this is likely to lead to an increase in recommended screening intervals. HPV vaccination may also reduce the positive predictive value of cervical cytology by reducing the number of truly positive abnormal smears. Careful consideration is required to ensure vaccination occurs at an age when the vaccine is most effective immunologically and when uptake is likely to be high. Antibody titres following vaccination in girls 12-16 years have been shown to be significantly higher than in older women, favouring vaccination in early adolescence prior contact with the virus. Highest prevalence rates for HPV infection are seen following the onset of sexual activity and therefore vaccination would need to be given prior to sexual debut. Since 20% of adolescents are sexually active at the age of 14 years, vaccination has been suggested at 10-12 years. However, parental concerns over the sexual implications of HPV vaccination may reduce uptake of vaccination thereby reducing the efficacy of an HPV vaccination programme. Concerns have already been raised over the acceptability of a vaccine preventing a sexually transmitted infection in young adolescents, particularly amongst parents or communities who consider their children to be at low risk of infection. This may be a particularly sensitive issue for ethnic minority groups. This paper considers the factors which will influence the efficacy of a public HPV vaccination programme and its impact on cervical screening.     

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the introduction of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in France

OBJECTIVES: A vaccine to prevent diseases due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18 is now available in France. The objective of this study was to assess the health and economic impact in France of implementing a quadrivalent HPV vaccine alongside existing screening practices versus screening alone. METHODS: A Markov model of the natural history of HPV infection incorporating screening and vaccination, was adapted to the French context. A vaccine that would prevent 100 percent of HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18-associated diseases, with lifetime duration and 80 percent coverage, given to girls at age 14 in conjunction with current screening was compared with screening alone. Results were analyzed from both a direct healthcare cost perspective (DCP) and a third-party payer perspective (TPP). Indirect costs such as productivity loss were not taken into account in this analysis. RESULTS: The incremental cost per life-year gained from vaccination was euro12,429 (TPP) and euro20,455 (DCP). The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for the introduction of HPV vaccination alongside the French cervical cancer screening program was euro8,408 (TPP) and euro13,809 (DCP). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that cost-effectiveness was stable, but was most sensitive to the discount rate used for costs and benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the commonly accepted threshold of euro50,000 per QALY, these analyses support the fact that adding a quadrivalent HPV vaccine to the current screening program in France is a cost-effective strategy for reducing the burden of cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.     

Sexual behaviors and intention for cervical screening among HPV-vaccinated young Chinese females

Background and objectivesHuman papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening prevent cervical cancer effectively. However, there are concerns whether vaccination leads to high-risk sexual behaviors and less intention for cervical screening. We aimed to evaluate the influence of HPV vaccination on high-risk sexual behaviors, and intention for cervical screening among young Chinese females. We also reported the latest HPV vaccination uptake in Hong Kong.MethodsA population-based survey was conducted between September 2016 and January 2017. Subjects were school-age girls from twenty-five secondary schools (in-school) and community females between 18 and 27 years (out-school). Demographics, vaccine-related attitudes, intention for cervical screening and participants’ sexual behaviors were examined.ResultsWe surveyed 2260 females from in-school (n = 1664) and out-school (n = 596) settings. 11.5% in-school and 23.5% out-school participants received at least one dose of HPV vaccine. Vaccination was not associated with age (in-school Odds Ratio [OR] 0.99, p = 0.87; out-school OR 1, p = 0.94), ethnicity (in-school OR 0.82, p = 0.72; out-school OR 0, p = 0.98), maternal education (in-school OR for secondary school 1.19, p = 0.43; for post-secondary school 1.28, p = 0.48), underage sex (in-school OR 1.22, p = 0.80; out-school OR 0.63, p = 0.67), earlier sexual exposure (in-school β 0.01, p = 0.99; out-school β 0.13, p = 0.68), multiple sex partners (in-school OR 3.27, p = 0.22; out-school OR 1.16, p = 0.43), and unprotected sex (in-school OR 1.14, p = 0.78; out-school OR 0.60, p = 0.10). Out-school females with higher personal education level was associated with higher vaccine uptake (post-secondary OR 3.4, p < 0.001; bachelor’s degree or above OR 3.71, p < 0.001). More vaccinated females intended for cervical screening (in-school 23.6% vs. 21.1%; out-school 53.6% vs. 43.6%). Costs and knowledge were important factors for non-vaccination and non-intention for cervical screening.ConclusionsHPV vaccination was not associated with earlier and high risk sexual behavior among Chinese young females. Vaccinated Chinese young females had a higher intention for cervical screening.     

Knowledge and awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine among young women in the first routinely vaccinated cohort in England

A national school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme has been available for 12–13 year old females in the UK since 2008, offering protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer. Little is known about HPV knowledge in girls who have been offered the vaccine. Girls offered the school-based vaccine in the first routine cohort (n = 1033) were recruited from 13 schools in London three years post-vaccination. Participants completed a questionnaire about HPV awareness, knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, and demographic characteristics including vaccine status. About a fifth of the girls reported they were unaware of the HPV infection. Among those who reported being aware of HPV (n = 759) knowledge was relatively low. Approximately half of the participants knew that HPV infection causes cervical cancer, condoms can reduce the risk of transmission and that cervical screening is needed regardless of vaccination status. These results are helpful in benchmarking HPV-related knowledge in vaccinated girls and could be used in the development of appropriate educational messages to accompany the first cervical screening invitation in this cohort in the future.     

Post-licensure monitoring of HPV vaccine in the United States

Post-licensure evaluation of vaccines plays an important role in monitoring the progress of immunization programs, demonstrating population impact of vaccines, and providing data for ongoing policy decisions. Two human papillomovirus (HPV) vaccines are licensed and recommended for use in females in the United States, a quadrivalent human HPV vaccine, licensed in 2006 and a bivalent vaccine HPV vaccine licensed in 2009. HPV vaccination is recommended for females 11 or 12 years of age with catch-up vaccination through age 26 years. Post-licensure monitoring of the HPV vaccine program has included some of the same systems established for other vaccines, such as those for vaccine safety and coverage monitoring. However, monitoring HPV vaccine impact on infection and disease outcomes has required new efforts. While there are well established cancer registries in the United States, it will take decades before the impact of vaccine on cervical cancer is observed. More proximal measures of vaccine impact include outcomes such as prevalence of HPV vaccine types, incidence of cervical precancers and genital warts. We review systems in place or being established for post-licensure monitoring of HPV vaccine in the United States.