(P450) Vaccines to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections and Cancer: Opinions among a National Sample of Parents in the United States

Background: Vaccine hesitancy continues to grow and as a result, rates of vaccine preventable diseases continue to increase. As vaccines to prevent sexually transmitted infections and cancer are currently under development, there is a need to understand determinants that could impact uptake. Barriers to HPV vaccine uptake include discomfort discussing the sexual transmission of the virus along with safety concerns. Therefore, similar opinions could impact uptake of future STI and cancer vaccines. This study explores beliefs about future STI and cancer vaccines to better understand factors that could impact uptake in both positive and negative ways.

Methods: Six online focus groups consisting of 9 to 15 participants were conducted utilizing an electronic chat format from February to March 2022, using a national convenience sample in the United States. Participants were primary care givers to an adolescents aged 11-17 years. A content analysis approach was utilized to examine data.

Results: Of the 64 participants, the majority were white (72%), female (84%), and the mean age was 47 years. Most expressed positive opinions about the need for vaccines that could prevent STIs and cancer. Regarding STI vaccines, one mentioned wanting to “protect [their] child, who may not always make the best decisions on their own and could be put at risk by someone without their knowledge or understanding.” Cancer vaccines were seen as beneficial because “cancer is awful [and] vaccines would be better than suffering.” Participants also raised safety and efficacy concerns regarding new vaccines stating they “would wait years until [they] could see the lasting effects” and new vaccines were “a huge experiment.” Some expressed specific confusion about cancer vaccines, how they would be developed, and preference for a cancer cure instead of a vaccine.

Conclusion: While participants had favorable opinions about STI and cancer vaccines, safety and efficacy concerns existed. To promote uptake, effective communication approaches will need to be developed to educate parents and adolescents about vaccine development and safety. This education should begin now to ensure that parents and adolescents have the necessary information in order to make informed decisions once vaccines are available.