Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas: Results from a pilot community‐based educational and school‐based vaccination program

Abstract

ObjectiveTo pilot and evaluate a combined community‐based education and middle school‐based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in a rural, medically underserved Texas area.MethodsThe study included 2276 students enrolled at three Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District, (RGCGISD, formerly Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District) middle schools (08/2016–02/2020). The intervention took place in a middle school setting with the community‐based, physician‐led HPV education campaign starting in 08/2016, and a school‐based vaccination program (Phase 1: 08/2017; Phase 2: 08/2018). Pre‐ and postintervention HPV vaccination rates were tracked against 2016 National Immunization Survey‐Teen rates (target: initiation 49.3%; completion 32.9%). Summary statistics were stratified by middle school.ResultsIn 2016, HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates for RGCGISD were lower than the national average (39.7% and 17.9%, respectively). In 2020, the overall HPV vaccine initiation rate increased by 58.0% (from 39.7% to 68.5%) and completion rates doubled (from 17.9% to 42.1%). The median age at HPV vaccine initiation and HPV vaccine completion (range) were 11.2 years (9–15) and 12 years (9–15). The median interval between HPV vaccine doses (range) was 287 days (36–1576). There were different between males and females among the three middle schools.ConclusionsMiddle schools serve as a feasible, effective interventional setting for delivering and increasing HPV education and vaccine uptake among adolescents, which offers substantial long‐term health benefits.