Widening Disparities in Teen HPV Vaccinations during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from Veneto Region (Italy)

• Published in: Vaccines (Basel) 2022-12, Vol.10 (12), p.2120
• Main Authors: Perin, Luca, Dal Zotto, Alessandra, Savio, Marta, Stano, Antonio, Bulegato, Lorenzo, Tribbia, Luca, Donà, Roberta, Tomasi, Matilde, Fietta, Silvia, Ferro, Antonio, Baldo, Vincenzo, Saugo, Mario, Cocchio, Silvia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adolescent; Analysis; Citizenship; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Demographic aspects; Health aspects; Health care; Health care disparities; Homogeneity; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Immunization; Methods; Pandemics; Pediatrics; Primary care; Schools; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomics; Teenagers; Vaccination; vaccination coverage; Youth
• ISSN: 2076-393X; 2076-393X
• DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122120

In Local Health Unit 7, human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination campaigns for 12-year-olds have long been implemented by the vaccination services of the Department of Prevention. Due to the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on these services, an emergency vaccination campaign was directly managed by primary care pediatricians (PCPs). An initial evaluation of this experience was conducted. Data on 12-year-olds assisted by PCPs belonging to the 2006 (pre-pandemic) and 2008 (pandemic) birth cohorts were extracted, along with HPV vaccination data. Health district, gender, citizenship, socioeconomic status, and PCPs were evaluated as possible influencing factors in a two-level logistic regression (second level: single PCP). The HPV vaccination gap between males and females increased significantly for the 2008 birth cohort compared to the 2006 birth cohort (11 vs. 4 percentage points). As for PCPs, the vaccination uptake range was 4-71% for the 2008 birth cohort vs. 32-85% for the 2006 cohort. The proportion of variance explained at the second level was overall equal to 9.7% for the 2008 cohort vs. 3.6% for the 2006 cohort. The vaccination campaign carried out during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the HPV vaccination gaps among Health Districts, genders, and individual PCPs, probably due to a lack of homogeneity in professional practices and attitudes toward HPV vaccination. Catch-up interventions are required in the immediate term, while an equity-lens approach should be taken for reprogramming the vaccination campaign. Greater involvement of schools and families could ensure a more equitable approach and a better uptake.