HPV, or the human papillomavirus, can lead to cancer. However, the awareness of the sexually transmitted virus and its possible link to cancer is less in the U.S. than previous years.
The widespread virus can also cause oral, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancer in unvaccinated people.
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In this study, researchers examined Health Information National Trends Survey data from 2014 to 2020 at five time points. Each time point contained 2,000 to 2,350 responses.
“Over 90% of HPV-associated cancers could be prevented with the HPV vaccination, yet vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. Given the connections between HPV-associated cancer awareness and HPV vaccination uptake, we must increase the population’s awareness of this link, as it may help increase vaccine uptake,” says the study’s lead author, Eric Adjei Boakye.
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The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the first and only vaccine to help protect people from different types of cancer associated with other HPV strains. In addition, this vaccine protects young people from infection with a specific strain of HPV.
The CDC recommends that boys and girls receive the HPV vaccine at 11 or 12. If the series is to be started before the 15th birthday, it is recommended to have two doses; if starting after the 15th birthday, it is recommended to have three doses.