16th National Immunisation Conference 2018

Description

Title: Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among young gay and bisexual men in Victoria

Speaker: Eric Chow

Abstract: In mid-2017, the Victorian Government funded a free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination catch-up program for men aged ≤26 who have sex with men (MSM) through sexual health clinics or other immunisation centres. We aimed to examine the HPV vaccine uptake rate among young MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic (MSHC). MSM aged ≤26 attending MSHC between 27-April-2017 and 31-December-2017 were included in analysis. HPV vaccine uptake rate was calculated based on the first consultation of each client during the period. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between vaccine uptake and client factors. 2108 MSM aged ≤26 attended MSHC over the study period, 7.6% (n=161) reported being previously vaccinated against HPV. Of the 1947 eligible men, 1134 (58.2%) were offered the vaccine, with 830 (42.1%) receiving the vaccine on the day. Men with past genital warts (aOR=3.06, p=0.007) and those who had >4 male partners in last 12 months (aOR=1.50, p=0.044) had a higher odds of accepting the HPV vaccine. 304 declined the vaccine, most men did not specify the reason (31.3%, n=95), 27.3% needed time to think (n=83).Although the uptake rate was 73.2% among those offered, the actual coverage in those eligible remained unsatisfactory (42.1%) particularly in a large sexual health service in Victoria. This highlights a clinic-based targeted MSM program is not sufficient to reach the vaccination coverage, and therefore should be implemented in conjunction with the school-based boys program.

Period	5 Jun 2018
Event type	Conference
Location	Adelaide, Australia, South AustraliaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National