HPV vaccinations: A pharmacist’s role in addressing misinformation

Zoona Ahmad is a final-year PharmD Candidate at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Jacob Noble is a final-year PharmD Candidate at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. Both are members of the 2022–2023 Member Engagement Standing Committee.

During the pandemic, pharmacists were one of the leading administrators of COVID-19 vaccinations in their communities, which included addressing misinformation and educating patients on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. However, the COVID-19 vaccine is not the only vaccine that needs advocating for. Similar to the scrutiny faced by the COVID-19 vaccine, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has also been associated with misinformation and questioning of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

During this past fall’s Midyear Regional Meetings (MRM), one of the most poignant and informative sessions addressed common myths and misunderstandings surrounding the HPV vaccine. The presentation at MRM swiftly equipped student pharmacists with tools and resources to address patient concerns and, in turn, improve HPV vaccination rates.

Addressing vaccine myths

Gardasil 9 (Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.) is the HPV vaccine currently available in the United States. It is a 2-dose series for patients ages 9 to 14 years and a 3-dose series for patients 15 to 45 years old.¹ The vaccine is indicated for the prevention of HPV infection as well as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, oropharyngeal, and other head/neck cancers caused by HPV infection.¹ The vaccine has been proven to be > 99% effective at preventing HPV infection and > 90% effective in preventing HPV-related cancers.¹

While the vaccine has been shown to be highly effective, some patients remain hesitant to get the vaccine due to a multitude of factors. In order to provide patient-centered care, pharmacists need to be aware of these reasons so that they may address patient concerns and increase confidence in the vaccine.

One of the largest myths surrounding the vaccine is that it can cause infertility in females. While it can be hard to discuss this topic, it is important to share that more than 2,000 females have been studied with no evidence of HPV-related infertility.¹ Another common myth surrounding the vaccine is that discussing the vaccine with adolescent patients will lead to an increase in sexual activity in this age group. However, in a study looking at 700,000 adolescents who lived in states where HPV vaccination and education was promoted, there was no association with an increase in sexual activity found.²

This information can assist pharmacists in making a strong recommendation to patients and ensuring that shared and informed decision making occurs with the patient. With the support of data, a connection with our patients, and a sincere and personal discussion, we can impact the way patients view the vaccine and its importance.

Providing care to all

Another common myth addressed during the presentation was the belief that HPV is only harmful to individuals with female anatomy. However, as we listened to the presenters and patient stories, we quickly learned that HPV does not singularly impact females, but is a risk to all genders. Knowing this, attendees quickly realized the importance of educating all individuals on HPV and the importance of getting the HPV vaccine.

Additionally, speakers addressed disparities that exist for certain subsets to access the vaccine, including young black women, patients with Medicaid, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The discussion prompted important talking points for expanding education and vaccine access to these populations. Overall, listening to the disparities that exist and the populations under- vaccinated for HPV, student pharmacists were made aware of the many ways in which they can continue to advocate for and increase HPV vaccination rates nationwide.

Develop relationships with patients

This session was a reminder that patients develop their own perceptions of medications based on what they see in the media and hear from their peers. As pharmacists, we need to understand where patients are getting their information so that we can address these hesitancies at the root. While this process may take a while, it is imperative to develop an honest, genuine relationship with patients so that we can become a trusted source of information, counteract misinformation, and improve vaccination rates overall.

Thank you to Merck for their support of Operation Reproductive Health, and for hosting an informative and impactful session on pharmacy’s role in HPV vaccination efforts!

References

1. Merck. Highlights of prescribing information. Readington Township, NJ: Merck. Available at: https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil_9/gardasil_9_pi.pdf. Accessed January 9, 2023.
2. Cook EE, Venkataramani AS, Kim JJ, et al. Legislation to increase uptake of HPV vaccination and adolescent sexual behaviors. Pediatrics. 2018;142(3):e20180458.