Disparities Seen in HPV Vaccine Uptake Among US Adults

HealthDay News — There are sociodemographic disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake among 27- to 45-year-olds, according to a study published online March 28 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.

Natalie L. Rincon, from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues explored any sociodemographic disparities in HPV vaccine uptake among 27- to 45-year-olds using data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (9440 participants).

The researchers found that women had more than 3 times greater odds of vaccine uptake vs men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.58). Non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely (aOR, 1.36) and Hispanics were less likely (aOR, 0.73) to receive the vaccine, compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Lower odds of uptake were seen among individuals without a usual place of care (aOR, 0.72) and in those with lower educational levels (highs school: aOR, 0.62; some college: aOR, 0.83).

“Males are in particular need of increased knowledge of the vaccine. For oropharyngeal cancer, about 75% of new cases are in males,” lead author Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, M.D., also of Duke University, said in a statement. “As oral HPV is the primary cause of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, providing the HPV vaccine to middle-aged individuals is undoubtedly an important strategy to decreasing risk of infection, persistence, and eventual HPV-associated oropharyngeal malignancy.”

Abstract/Full Text