Researchers from the University of Waterloo have found a way to make HPV vaccines more accessible.
HPV vaccines allow the disease to be completely preventable; however, over 1,400 women are affected yearly in Canada, with almost 400 deaths.
Using an electronic questionnaire at the time of appointment scheduling for seasonal influenza or COVID-19 vaccines, researchers have found, is a quick and efficient way to identify people in Ontario willing to receive additional life-saving vaccines.
The study, ‘Herpes zoster and human papillomavirus vaccination opportunities identified using electronic prompts at the time of scheduling influenza or COVID-19 vaccines,’ is published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.
Making huge strides in vaccine research
“This is a massive opportunity for policymakers to focus on vaccine campaigns to reach more patients,” said Dr Wasem Alsabbagh, associate professor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy.
Questions were embedded into MedEssist, a platform many pharmacists use for scheduling vaccination appointments. This revealed if individuals booking for their flu or COVID-19 vaccines are also eligible for HPV vaccines and their willingness to discuss these vaccines with their pharmacist.
Alsabbagh explained: “During a time of prevalent misinformation, providing robust information through healthcare providers is essential.
“Pharmacists were at the front line during the pandemic and proved that they can talk to their patients, explain the importance of HPV vaccines, address their safety concerns, and allow patients to make informed decisions.”
Awareness surrounding HPV vaccines could save lives
Currently, around 60% of people in Canada are vaccinated against HPV. However, the study revealed that of those booking their COVID-19 and influenza vaccine appointments, only 30% had booked their HPV vaccines.
Overall, 20% indicated they were willing to speak to a pharmacist to discuss any concerns they may have surrounding this infectious disease.
“Vaccination can save lives and prevent a lot of adverse clinical outcomes,” Alsabbagh commented.
“This would not only prevent human suffering but also lead to significant savings in the health-care system.”
In Ontario, target vaccination rates for coverage are currently not being met. Offering other vaccines while booking for flu or COVID-19 vaccines can be an optimal way to reach more individuals willing to have HPV vaccines.
The HPV and shingles vaccines were chosen as examples to conduct this research. While this research is solely focused on Ontario data, pharmacists and policymakers can extrapolate the results from this study to focus on other vaccinations that affect their communities.
