A recent study by Wake Forest University School of Medicine researchers found that school entry requirements are associated with a rise in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. The study’s findings were published online in Pediatrics. HPV is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection that can lead to health issues such as genital warts and certain cancers. To prevent infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that 11- to 12-year-olds receive the HPV vaccine.According to CDC data from 2022, only 50% of 13-year-olds were up to date on HPV vaccinations, even though they are supposed to receive two doses of the HPV vaccine, given 6 to 12 months apart. Currently, school-entry requirements for HPV vaccination or exemption are only in place in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. “There are state and federal policies in place to address low HPV vaccination rates among adolescents, but there has been insufficient research to determine which policies are most effective,” stated .Brigid Grabert, Ph.D., J.D., who is an assistant professor of implementation science at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the senior author of the study.
In partnership with researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, Grabert and her team conducted a systematic review of studies from 2009-2022 that examined the link between policies and HPV vaccination rates among U.S. adolescents. The team found 36 eligible studies and summarized their findings based on different types of policies, such as school-entry requirements, federally funded policies, and educational requirements that mandate schools or other organizations to Promote the advantages of HPV vaccination.
“We have discovered reliable proof that mandating HPV vaccination for school entry is effective in areas where parents who do not vaccinate must request an exemption,” Grabert stated. “We have also seen that requiring other vaccines for school entry has led to additional positive effects on HPV vaccinations.”
Grabert also noted that policies funded by the Vaccines for Children program and Medicaid were consistently linked to a rise in HPV vaccinations. However, only a small number of studies found a connection between educational requirements and HPV vaccination rates.
“PoliGrabert emphasized the importance of policymakers being informed about the potential reduction of HPV-related cancers and diseases. However, not all policies are effective, so careful consideration is needed to determine the best strategy for increasing the administration of HPV vaccines.
