Parents Appear Receptive To Children Aged Nine Or 10 Receiving HPV Vaccine, Study Finds

HealthDay (6/2, Gotkine) reports a study found that “clinicians consider administration of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as feasible at age 9 to 10 years, and parents appear to be receptive to discussing vaccination at this age.” Researchers “conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study as part of an ongoing randomized trial that compared initiation at ages 9 to 10 years (intervention) versus 11 to 12 years (control).” According to surveys, “most clinicians reported that vaccination at ages 9 to 10 years was not burdensome; issues were mainly unchanged, including parental concerns and discussion times. According to interviewees, many parents seemed receptive to discussing HPV vaccination at ages 9 to 10 years; pushback often resulted from child expectations for a vaccine-free visit at age 9 years, rather than concerns relating to vaccination.” The study was published in Pediatrics.