Changing attitudes in Japan toward HPV vaccination: a 5-year follow-up survey of obstetricians and gynecologists regarding their current opinions about the HPV vaccine

ABSTRACT

In Japan, the governmental recommendation for HPV vaccination was suspended in June 2013 because of media reports of so-called adverse vaccine events. The HPV vaccination rate in Japan prior to this suspension was almost 70%, but fell afterward to almost zero. To explore ways to bolster HPV vaccination, between 2014 and 2019 we conducted three serial surveys of the opinions of obstetricians and gynecologists about HPV vaccination. This study aimed to discuss the changing attitudes found in this 5-year follow-up survey. In August 2014, January 2017, and June 2019, we posted questionnaires to about 570 obstetricians and gynecologists practicing in Osaka, Japan. All three surveys used the same structured and closed-ended questionnaire, including questions about their personal opinions regarding HPV vaccination. We compared our new results to those of the previous two surveys. The response rate for the latest survey was 51.1% (293/573), which was equivalent to the previous two surveys. Among the responders, 83.3% (244/293) now thought that the Japanese government should restart its HPV vaccine recommendation, and 84.6% (248/293) were already recommending HPV vaccines for teenagers in their daily care. Eleven of 30 doctors (36.7%) had their own teenage daughters vaccinated against HPV after the suspension of recommendation. The rate has maintained an increasing trend from the previous two surveys. This study indicated that the attitude of obstetricians and gynecologists in Japan toward HPV vaccination has changed positively over 5 years. The results should serve as an encouragement to resume the governmental recommendation of HPV vaccines.

KEYWORDS:

• HPV vaccine
• Opinion
• Obstetrician
• Gynecologist
• Japan
• suspension of recommendation

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. GS Buzard for his constructive critique and editing.

Author contributions

YN, YU, AY, SN, KH, and TK contributed to the study conception and design, data collection, and drafting of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

YU and AY have received a lecture fee, and YU received a research grant [J550703673] from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). TK received a research fund [VT#55166] from MSD.

Abbreviations

HPV	=	Human papillomavirus
MHLW	=	The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
WHO	=	World Health Organization

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant [H29-024]; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare [H29-024].