El Paso uses three strategies to increase HPV vaccination rates in adolescents
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El Paso, Texas, used community-based interventions, clinical referrals and partnership referrals through schools and organizations to improve HPV vaccination rates among adolescents, researchers reported.
According to data presented during the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases’ Virtual Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research, one in four teens is affected by HPV, and the Hispanic population has a higher rate of HPV-type cancers than non-Hispanics. El Paso has a majority Hispanic community, and about 39% of the community is aged younger than 24 years.
Using the “Theory of Planned Behavior,” Claudia Lozano, MPH, from the El Paso Department of Public Health, and colleagues created the three approaches to improve the HPV vaccination rate in the city. The strategies, as explained by the researchers, were:
- community-based immunization events with clinicians providing services outside of the fixed site clinics;
- clinic referrals to obtain HPV immunization during STI testing; and
- partnership referrals from schools or organizations using a voucher.
“Working in unison with community organizations and schools maximizes public health resources and expands clinical opportunities for uptake of cancer-preventing vaccine,” Lozano told Healio.
The authors reviewed data from 2,284 records, which were coded according to which vaccination strategy was used and included demographics, number of HPV doses and dates of administration in 2018, specifically observing participants aged between 13 and 19 years. They compared the data with a control group that did not participate in any of the strategies and was provided the HPV vaccine through traditional measures.
“Incorporating community-based organizations to transform service delivery beyond clinical settings and into nearby familiar settings increased HPV vaccination series completion from 10% to 65% of participants,” Lozano said.
Lozano noted that building a rapport between youths and parental figures is conducive to educating them about protection from cancers associated with HPV. It also can generate a commitment to complete the HPV vaccination series.
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Lozano C, et al. El Paso’s health department strategies improve HPV vaccination rates among adolescents. Presented at: NFID Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research; June 18-19, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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