July 16, 2025
Initiative-led research offers recommendations for improving HPV vaccine uptake
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for several types of cancer, including roughly 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer per year in the United States. New research led by the University of Washington’s Population Health Initiative and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Vaccine Confidence Project suggests that tailored, locally informed interventions can help address barriers and improve HPV vaccine uptake.
The study, which was published in the journal Vaccine, investigated the factors behind HPV vaccine hesitancy and effective public health strategies in New York and Florida. It found that socio-demographic characteristics — such as age, gender, education and income — along with perceptions of vaccine importance and safety, significantly influenced vaccination rates.
The study recommends enhancing HPV vaccination uptake through provider education, tailored community interventions, improved vaccine access, stronger vaccination policies, strategies to mitigate COVID-19’s impact and support for catch-up vaccination programs. These approaches aim to address socio-demographic and behavioral factors while strengthening local immunization efforts.