Attitudes toward Adolescent HPV Vaccination after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey of Mothers

Abstract

In the United States, vaccination rates for many routinely recommended vaccines have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, yet human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates still lag pre-pandemic levels. This study sought to uncover the potential effects of the pandemic on attitudes about the HPV vaccine, and factors associated with changes in attitudes. We conducted a national survey (n = 3968) of U.S. mothers with children aged 9–17 years. Outcome variables measured changes in attitude toward the HPV vaccine following the pandemic. Two logistic regression models identified predictors of (1) those who did not have attitude changes (always negative vs. always positive), and (2) those who reported attitude changes (change to negative vs. change to positive). Attitudes toward the HPV vaccine remained unchanged in 78.9% of participants (58.1% positive, 20.8% negative). Of the 21.1% reporting changed attitudes, 9.6% changed to positive and 11.5% to negative. Those reporting changing to a negative attitude had a greater odds of reporting conservative political views, and being unsure/undecided about vaccinating their child against HPV compared to those who reported changing to a positive attitude. Targeted strategies are needed to address erosion in confidence in the HPV vaccine and other vaccines resulting from mis- and disinformation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• HPV
• mothers
• pandemic
• social media
• vaccine hesitancy