HPV vaccine: knowledge and acceptance to ensure effectiveness

Abstract

The new Vaccine technologies against transmissible and non-transmissible diseases, such as cancer, have had an impact on international public health. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is used on a large scale in immunization programs in more than 58 countries, with resultant efficacy and safety for precursor lesions of cervical cancer, in addition to anogenital lesions. After the introduction of quadrivalent HPV vaccine (6,11,16 and 18) in Brazil in 2014, monitoring the vaccination coverage and the development of HPV prevalence incidence of cervical abnormalities and precancerous lesions must be observed, as well as morbidity and mortality trends from in situ and invasive cancer. Encouraging information, counseling and continuing education is recommended as a strategy to broaden vaccine acceptance in order to sediment its implementation and ensure effectiveness in reducing new cases of cervical cancer in the future.

Knowledge gaps and acquisition about HPV and its vaccine among Brazilian medical students

“…Studies show that health professionals are important in vaccine counseling [40]. Moreover, the relationship of trust between the healthcare professional and the patient exists through clear and accessible and sometimes culturally appropriate communication and information about the HPV vaccination program [41]. This relationship is reflected in "healthcare professionals" being the main sources of information about HPV and its vaccine, followed by "Media (TV / radio)" and "School".…”

“…It is worth mentioning that the phenomenon called vaccine hesitation (which consists of delay in accepting or refusing vaccines, despite the availability of vaccination services) [41,42], is a fundamental determinant for low HPV vaccination rates. Studies show that potential determinants of vaccine hesitation are communication and preventive attitudes.…”

“…Integration between health professionals and the population is key to ensuring adequate vaccine coverage and ensuring promising vaccine results. The encouragement of information, counseling and continuing education is recommended as a strategy to broaden the acceptance of the vaccine in order to settle its implementation and ensure its effectiveness in reducing future cervical cancer cases [41,42].…”

Knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccine among HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated adolescents at Western Amazon

“…Misconceptions about the HPV vaccine are barriers to the vaccination of adolescents, especially in the age group that depends on the parents or guardians to get vaccinated. The stimulation of early sexual life should be demystified among the population, and counseling on the subject should be encouraged by health professionals 5,6,26 .…”

Adesão de adolescentes à vacinação contra o Papilomavírus Humano em um município da Região Sul do Brasil

“…Esses cânceres são os mais frequentes em homens e mulheres entre todos os tipos de cânceres. 1,[4][5][6] Para prevenir as infecções ou lesões pré-cancerosas e cânceres relacionados ao HPV existem estratégias como a prevenção primária e secundária. A prevenção primária é realizada com a vacinação contra o HPV e o uso de preservativos nas relações sexuais, tanto a feminino como a masculino; e a prevenção secundária para o CCU é realizada com o exame preventivo ou exame de Papanicolaou, considerado o procedimento de rastreamento e controle de câncer.…”