Parental concerns about sexual activity declining as reason not vaccinating children against HPV: Physicians need to discuss benefits of vaccine

Concern about sexual activity is declining as a reason parents do not get their daughters the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a research study presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's 2017 Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer.

Instead, according to a study presented by lead researcher Anna Beavis, MD, MPH, an SGO member and gynecologic oncologist fellow at Johns Hopkins University, parents continue to not see the vaccine as a necessity and are concerned about side effects and safety. The HPV vaccine, introduced in 2006, is used to prevent adolescents from contracting the HPV virus, which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer in women, as well as several other cancers.

"With the new nine-valent vaccine, almost 90 percent of all cervical cancer could be prevented if all adolescents were vaccinated," Beavis said. "Yet unfortunately, vaccination rates in the U.S have lagged considerably behind those of other Westernized nations."

The data presented compared the National Immunization Survey, or NIS-Teen, data, from 2010-2014, which reported on U.S. parents' responses to a question about why they did not vaccinate their daughters against HPV and did not intend to in the next 12 months.

From 2010-2014, the top two reasons were the concerns regarding safety and side effects and the belief the vaccine is not necessary. Yet, the third most common reason, adolescents' lack of sexual activity, dropped as a reason for parents not vaccinating. According to the data, in 2010, 18 percent of parents reported adolescents lack of sexual activity a reason, but in 2014 it dropped to 9 percent.

Prior literature has shown that physicians often delay or do not discuss HPV vaccination with parents because they feel they would also have to address sexual activity, Beavis said. Yet, the data shows that parents need to understand the necessity and safety as well as the benefits of cancer prevention.

Additionally, the vaccine produces a stronger immune response in younger children, and thus only two shots instead of three are recommended if the vaccine is given to children under the age of 15.

"Physicians should not be afraid to discuss the HPV vaccine with parents," Beavis said. "Our focus should be on cancer prevention."