The Uptake of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine In Irish Schools: The Impact Of Disadvantage

• Published in: Irish medical journal 2017-08, Vol.110 (7), p.603-603
• Main Authors: Migone, C, Barrett, T, Cotter, S, Clarke, A, Corcoran, B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Female; Humans; Ireland; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Vaccines - administration & dosage; Religion; Schools - statistics & numerical data; Socioeconomic Factors; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0332-3102

HPV vaccine Gardasil© is offered to girls in first year of secondary school in Ireland. We aimed to determine the association between HPV vaccine uptake among girls for academic year 2013/2014, by school and school characteristics: socioeconomic disadvantage and religious ethos. The National Schools Immunisation System (SIS) was searched to determine HPV vaccine uptake in schools for 2013/2014 (prior to recent anti-HPV vaccine publicity). The disadvantaged status and ethos of each school was added to the report. In total 577 schools were identified. Mean vaccine uptake was 83.7%. Disadvantaged schools had a lower mean uptake (%) than other schools (79.4% vs 85.0%, difference 5.58%, 95%CI 2.69-8.21) and were twice as likely to have an uptake of ?50% (OR 2.07, 95% CI 2.76 - 5.18). No difference was found between schools of different ethoses. HPV vaccine uptake is lower in disadvantaged Irish schools. Policies should be developed to ensure a more equitable uptake of HPV vaccine.