Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2024
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Vaccines
Volume
12
Issue
4
DOI of Original Publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040401
Date of Submission
September 2025
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States; yet, despite the availability of safe and effective HPV vaccines, only half of eligible adolescents have completed the vaccine series. School-entry requirements are one proven strategy to increase vaccination rates among children and youth and reduce the burden of HPV-related cancer. This study investigated community perceptions of an HPV vaccine school-entry mandate in Virginia and the consequences of a low threshold exemption option included in the legislation. We conducted 40 interviews with community members including 15 interviews with parents, 19 with healthcare providers, and 6 with community leaders. Interviews asked about knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes concerning the HPV vaccine and mandate. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Despite healthcare provider support for the mandate, there was widespread confusion over the school-entry policy and concern that the exemption option undermined vaccination efforts. Understanding variations in community-level perceptions and response to school-based vaccination mandates is crucial for designing effective public health strategies. Findings suggest statewide vaccination initiatives should preemptively identify low uptake areas and provide targeted information to communities. Future mandates should avoid the use of ambiguous and contradictory language in vaccine-related legislation.
Rights
Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).
Recommended Citation
Brooks, E. M., Fugate-Laus, K., Webel, B., & Naavaal, S. (2024). Perceptions of a State-Level HPV Vaccine Mandate and Exemption Option in Rural Virginia: A Qualitative Study. Vaccines, 12(4), 401. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040401
Is Part Of
VCU Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach Publication