Intentions for catch-up HPV vaccination in Japan: an internet survey

Purpose In Japan, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare decided to suspend govermental recommendation for HPV vaccination in FY 2013. The HPV vaccination rate for those born in FY 2000 or thereafter declined dramatically. In 2021, the suspension of recommendation ended. The catch-up vaccinations for the unvaccinated have been offered nationwide from FY 2022 to FY 2024. We aimed to quantify the vaccination intentions and characteristics of those young women now eligible for catch-up vaccination.Methods In February of 2022, we conducted an internet survey targeted women who were born in 1997-2004 but who had not yet been HPV vaccinated.Results We received 1,648 valid responses. 41.6% of the respondents wanted to uptake the catch-up HPV vaccination, 29.7% were undecided, and 28.7% did not want to be vaccinated. The intention to uptake catch-up HPV vaccination was associated with a good history of gynecological visits, intention to receive cervical cancer screening, sexual activity, degree of anxiety about cervical cancer, familiarity with problems associated with cervical cancer, experience with vaccination recommendations, and knowledge about cervical cancer (p < 0.05, respectively). In the vaccinated generation, the proportion of the group that did not want to be vaccinated was significantly higher (p < 0.05). In the vaccine-suspended generation, the proportion of the group that wanted to be vaccinated was significantly higher (p < 0.05).Conclusion Our survey revealed that catch-up vaccination intentions differed depending on the vaccination environment. It is necessary for all organizations involved with HPV vaccination, such as government, medical institutions, and educational institutions, to make recommendations based on an understanding of the characteristics of the vaccinated generation and the vaccine-suspended generation.

Automated summary

Our survey showed that the intention to receive catch-up vaccination varied depending on the vaccination history. Factors such as gynecological visits, willingness to undergo cervical cancer screening, sexual activity, anxiety about cervical cancer, familiarity with cervical cancer-related issues, experience with vaccination recommendations, and knowledge about cervical cancer were found to be associated with the intention to uptake catch-up HPV vaccination (p < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant difference in vaccination intention between the vaccinated generation and the vaccine-suspended generation (p < 0.05).