Aspects of HPV vaccination in Brazilian boys between 2017 and 2022: An ecological study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: According to the World Health Organization, in 2022 there were 9 to 10 million people infected with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the main causes of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the world. This infectious scenario, associated with the asymptomatic manifestation of the disease, has changed the vaccination schedule, including boys in HPV vaccination campaigns, which has contributed to the protection of the individual himself and also to group immunity. OBJECTIVE: To present the epidemiological profile of HPV vaccination among boys aged 11 to 14 in Brazil. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive observational study based on male HPV vaccination. The data was obtained from the Ministry of Health's DATASUS platform and tabulated using TABNET, in the Health Care item using the sub-item Immunizations since 1994 and doses applied. The following filters were used: immunobiologicals, quadrivalent HPV, period from 2017 to 2022, age group 11 to 14 years. RESULTS: In the period studied, 16,770,010 doses of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine were administered to adolescents aged 11 to 14 in Brazil. Of these, 12,222,790 doses were intended for males. The year 2017 was a highlight in terms of the number of immunobiologicals distributed to boys, with a reduction in the total number of doses applied in subsequent years. In terms of Brazilian regions, the Southeast was the region that applied the most immunobiologicals. In addition, adherence was highest in the first dose of the vaccine, with a decreasing pattern in subsequent doses. As for the age range of the boys vaccinated, the main age was 11. DISCUSSION: Vaccine adherence is still a problem in Brazil, as vaccination rates are still lower than expected and recommended. CONCLUSION: This strengthens the need for public interventions to mitigate the spread of the disease and ensure good vaccination uptake in Brazil.