Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on HPV Vaccinations in Switzerland and Greece: Road to Recovery

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to healthcare, including reduced administration of routinely recommended HPV vaccines in a number of European countries. Because the extent and trends of accumulated vaccine dose deficits may vary by country, decision-makers need country-specific information regarding vaccine deficits to plan effective catch-up initiatives. To address this knowledge gap in Switzerland and Greece, this study used a previously published COVID-19 recovery calculator and historical vaccine sales data to quantify the cumulative number of missed doses and the catch-up rate required to clear the deficit in Switzerland and Greece. The resultant cumulative deficit in HPV doses for Switzerland and Greece were 24.4% and 21.7%, respectively, of the total number of doses disseminated in 2019. To clear the dose deficit by December 2025, monthly vaccination rates must be increased by 6.3% and 6.0% compared to 2019 rates in Switzerland and Greece, respectively. This study demonstrates that administration rates of routine HPV vaccines decreased significantly among Swiss and Greek adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and that a sustained increase in vaccination rates is necessary to recover the HPV dose deficits identified and to prevent long-term public health consequences.

Extending vaccination periods against human papillomavirus: Lessons from the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic

“…According to the model, 48 682–110 192 additional cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (CIN2/3) and 2882–6487 additional cases of cervical cancer would occur over the next 100 years 6 . In Europe, a similar pattern was reported in Switzerland and Greece for the year 2020 with 14.8% and 4.8% reductions of HPV vaccine administration in each country, respectively, compared with 2019 7 . In Switzerland, the effect has been reversed in 2021 as the dose deficit decreased by 46.6% compared with 2020; however, in Greece, the dose deficit in 2021 increased by 156.2% compared with 2020.…”

“…6 In Europe, a similar pattern was reported in Switzerland and Greece for the year 2020 with 14.8% and 4.8% reductions of HPV vaccine administration in each country, respectively, compared with 2019. 7 In Switzerland, the effect has been reversed in 2021 as the dose deficit decreased by 46.6% compared with 2020; however, in Greece, the dose deficit in 2021 increased by 156.2% compared with 2020.…”

Effect of COVID-19 on HPV Vaccination in HIV Individuals: A Preliminary Observation from HIV Clinic in Indochina

“…Guidelines for Quality Assurance of Cervical Cancer Prevention are currently available, and they are based on integrated HPV vaccination and screening, as well as monitoring the development of the eradication goal. 5 Stakeholders should not stray from this goal as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which momentarily halted prevention efforts. 5 6 Health professionals should concentrate on high-risk women and follow cost-effective strategies, including self-sampling, in the immediate postepidemic phase.…”

“…5 Stakeholders should not stray from this goal as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which momentarily halted prevention efforts. 5 6 Health professionals should concentrate on high-risk women and follow cost-effective strategies, including self-sampling, in the immediate postepidemic phase. 7…”

“…5 Stakeholders should not stray from this goal as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which momentarily halted prevention efforts. 5,6 Health professionals should concentrate on high-risk women and follow cost-effective strategies, including self-sampling, in the immediate postepidemic phase. 7 Gynecologists should provide the right information to their patients' families, as recommended by Miyoshi et al, so that Japanese women can overcome their cognitive biases and accurately comprehend the relationship between COVID-19 and the susceptibility to and severity of cervical cancer.…”