Widespread HPV Misinformation Fuels Declining Vaccination Rates, New Study Reveals
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A concerning lack of awareness surrounding the human papillomavirus (HPV), its associated cancers, and the protective HPV vaccine is contributing to declining vaccination and screening rates across the United States, according to research published Thursday in JAMA Oncology. The study highlights a critical gap in public health knowledge that experts warn could have serious long-term consequences.
Significant Knowledge Deficits Persist
More than a third of US adults – 34.3% – report having never heard of HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection. This lack of basic understanding is particularly pronounced in certain regions, exceeding 40% in seven states: Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and South Dakota.
“When people make decisions about whether they want to get vaccinated or whether they want to get their child vaccinated, they are doing a risk-versus-benefit assessment,” explained a senior researcher involved in the study. “So it’s important for them to understand what can happen when someone gets HPV infection.”
The study, which analyzed data from 2017 through 2020 collected from 22,344 adults via the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) conducted by the National Cancer Institute, also revealed alarming rates of misinformation regarding the cancers HPV can cause. Nationally, over 70% of respondents were unaware that HPV is a leading cause of oral cancers, while nearly 28% did not know about its link to cervical cancer. In a staggering 45 states and Washington, DC, more than 60% of individuals surveyed were unaware of HPV’s connection to oral cancers.
Gender Disparities in Vaccination
The HPV vaccine is a highly effective preventative measure against cancers of the cervix, anus, oropharynx (back of the throat), vulva, vagina, and penis. However, vaccination rates remain suboptimal, particularly among boys. While the vaccine was initially approved for girls in 2006, it wasn’t approved for boys until 2009.
“People think, ‘Oh, cervical cancer. I don’t need to get my boys vaccinated,’” a researcher noted, citing anecdotal evidence from conversations with pediatricians. “Parents consistently express the belief that HPV vaccination is only necessary for girls.” This misconception is fueling a concerning disparity in vaccination coverage, with boys lagging significantly behind girls.
Screening Rates Lag Behind Other Cancer Preventatives
The decline in HPV awareness and vaccination coincides with a broader trend of decreasing preventative care. A recent report from the American Cancer Society indicates that screening rates for breast cancer and colon cancer have largely recovered following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination have not experienced the same rebound.
“We are losing that critical opportunity of being able to vaccinate kids, being able to screen women at the right time and being able to catch these cancers early,” the researcher warned. “It just worries me how this is going to translate five years, 10 years down the line.”
The findings come at a time when public trust in vaccines is being challenged, including questions raised by Health and Human Services Secretary Roberts F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the safety of the HPV vaccine. However, numerous studies have consistently demonstrated the vaccine’s effectiveness and safety profile. Addressing the widespread misinformation and improving public understanding of HPV and its prevention are crucial steps in safeguarding public health.
