Approaches to increase HPV vaccination rate in Germany – challenges and opportunities. A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: In Germany, the prevalence of infections with the human papilloma virus (HPV) among women and men is high. High-risk HPV types can lead to certain types of cancer (e. g., cervical cancer). Vaccination against HPV infections associated with cancer and genital warts was introduced in Germany in 2007. Currently, HPV vaccination is recommended for girls and boys by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination. The vaccination rate, however, remains rather low, with rates below 50% in 15-year-old girls and of about 5% in 15-year-old boys in 2019. This suggests that new approaches are urgently needed to increase HPV vaccination coverage in Germany in the coming years. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges related to the application and implementation of different approaches designed to increase HPV vaccination uptake among male and female adolescents in Germany according to expert views. Materials and methods: From April to July 2020, 43 experts from the field of HPV vaccination in Germany were interviewed using a semi-standardized interview guide. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis by Udo Kuckartz. Results and Conclusion: According to the experts interviewed the following would be the most promising approaches to increase HPV vaccination rates in Germany: educational measures, school vaccination programs, increasing participation in the adolescent health check-up “J1”, reminder and recall systems. The most reasonable solution would be to pursue several approaches simultaneously. According to the experts, more political support with implementing strategies and reducing bureaucratic obstacles as well as an increase in cooperation between relevant stakeholders is required to achieve the effective implementation of these strategies.