Pharmacists’ Role in HPV Vaccine Uptake Among Women: A Scoping Review of Interventions and Barriers

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer among women worldwide. Although HPV vaccination is proven to be safe and effective, global coverage remains suboptimal, with substantial disparities between high-income and lower-middle-income countries. Recent evidence indicates that HPV vaccine uptake in upper-middle-income countries is considerably higher than in lower-middle-income countries, reflecting persistent inequities in vaccine access. Pharmacists, as accessible and trusted healthcare professionals, have been increasingly recognized for their potential roles in supporting HPV vaccination through education, counseling, and vaccine administration. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR framework, aimed to explore how pharmacists influence HPV vaccine uptake among women by identifying their roles, assessing their impact on vaccination-related outcomes, and examining implementation challenges. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus databases was performed. A total of 24 studies were included in this review. The majority of studies originated from high-income countries, particularly the United States, where pharmacists are authorized to provide immunization services. Nine studies reported pharmacist-led interventions such as public education, individualized counseling on the importance of vaccination for parents/caregivers, outreach messaging, and vaccine administration, which demonstrated improvements in awareness, vaccination intent, and HPV uptake. The remaining studies assessed pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, readiness, and perceived barriers related to the provision of immunization services, including limited training, unclear legal authority, and workload constraints. Overall, this review underscores the important contribution of pharmacists in HPV vaccination delivery. When adequately supported by education, infrastructure, and policy, pharmacists can serve as key partners in expanding equitable access to HPV vaccination and advancing cervical cancer prevention.