Serum Troponin I Assessments in 5- to 30-Year-Olds After BNT162b2 Vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: Rare myocarditis and pericarditis cases have occurred in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine recipients. Troponin levels, a potential marker of myocardial injury, were assessed in healthy participants before and after BNT162b2 vaccination. METHODS: Vaccine-experienced 12- to 30-year-olds in phase 3 crossover C4591031 Substudy B (NCT04955626) who had two or three prior BNT162b2 30-µg doses were randomized to receive BNT162b2 30 µg followed by placebo, or placebo followed by BNT162b2 30 µg, 1 month apart. A participant subset, previously unvaccinated against COVID-19, in the phase 3 C4591007 study (NCT04816643) received up to three vaccinations (BNT162b2 10 µg or placebo [5- to 11-year-olds]) or open-label BNT162b2 30 µg (12- to 15-year-olds). Blood samples collected pre-vaccination, 4 days post-vaccination, and 1-month post-vaccination (C4591031 Substudy B only) were analyzed. Frequencies of elevated troponin I levels (male, > 35 ng/l; female, > 17 ng/l) were assessed. RESULTS: Percentages of 12- to 30-year-olds (n = 1485) in C4591031 Substudy B with elevated troponin levels following BNT162b2 or placebo receipt were 0.5% and 0.8% before vaccination, 0.7% and 1.0% at day 4, and 0.7% and 0.5% at 1 month, respectively. In Study C4591007 (n = 1265), elevated troponin I levels were observed in 0.2, 0.4, and 0.2% of 5- to 11-year-old BNT162b2 recipients at baseline and 4 days post-dose 2 and 3, respectively; corresponding values in 12- to 15-year-olds were 0.4, 0.4, and 0.7%. No 5- to 11-year-old placebo recipients had elevated troponin levels. No myocarditis or pericarditis cases or deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Among 5- to < 30-year-olds in both studies, troponin levels were rarely elevated (≤ 1.0%) and similar before and post-vaccination; troponin levels were also similar between BNT162b2 and placebo in 12- to 30-year-old and 5- to 11-year-old recipients in the respective studies. No myocarditis or pericarditis cases were reported. These findings did not provide evidence that BNT162b2 causes troponin elevations. No utility of routine measurement of troponin levels in asymptomatic BNT162b2 recipients was identified.

Evaluation of BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children Younger than 5 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: Safe and effective vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are urgently needed in young children. METHODS: We conducted a phase 1 dose-finding study and are conducting an ongoing phase 2-3 safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy trial of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy children 6 months to 11 years of age. We present results for children 6 months to less than 2 years of age and those 2 to 4 years of age through the data-cutoff dates (April 29, 2022, for safety and immunogenicity and June 17, 2022, for efficacy). In the phase 2-3 trial, participants were randomly assigned (in a 2:1 ratio) to receive two 3-µg doses of BNT162b2 or placebo. On the basis of preliminary immunogenicity results, a third 3-µg dose (≥8 weeks after dose 2) was administered starting in January 2022, which coincided with the emergence of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant. Immune responses at 1 month after doses 2 and 3 in children 6 months to less than 2 years of age and those 2 to 4 years of age were immunologically bridged to responses after dose 2 in persons 16 to 25 years of age who received 30 µg of BNT162b2 in the pivotal trial. RESULTS: During the phase 1 dose-finding study, two doses of BNT162b2 were administered 21 days apart to 16 children 6 months to less than 2 years of age (3-µg dose) and 48 children 2 to 4 years of age (3-µg or 10-µg dose). The 3-µg dose level was selected for the phase 2-3 trial; 1178 children 6 months to less than 2 years of age and 1835 children 2 to 4 years of age received BNT162b2, and 598 and 915, respectively, received placebo. Immunobridging success criteria for the geometric mean ratio and seroresponse at 1 month after dose 3 were met in both age groups. BNT162b2 reactogenicity events were mostly mild to moderate, with no grade 4 events. Low, similar incidences of fever were reported after receipt of BNT162b2 (7% among children 6 months to <2 years of age and 5% among those 2 to 4 years of age) and placebo (6 to 7% among children 6 months to <2 years of age and 4 to 5% among those 2 to 4 years of age). The observed overall vaccine efficacy against symptomatic Covid-19 in children 6 months to 4 years of age was 73.2% (95% confidence interval, 43.8 to 87.6) from 7 days after dose 3 (on the basis of 34 cases). CONCLUSIONS: A three-dose primary series of 3-µg BNT162b2 was safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in children 6 months to 4 years of age. (Funded by BioNTech and Pfizer; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04816643.).

Reducing MRSA Infection in a New NICU During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent in most NICUs, with a high rate of skin colonization and subsequent invasive infections among hospitalized neonates. The effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce MRSA infection in the NICU during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been characterized. METHODS: Using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Model for Improvement, we implemented several process-based infection prevention strategies to reduce invasive MRSA infections at our level IV NICU over 24 months. The outcome measure of invasive MRSA infections was tracked monthly utilizing control charts. Process measures focused on environmental disinfection and hospital personnel hygiene were also tracked monthly. The COVID-19 pandemic was an unexpected variable during the implementation of our project. The pandemic led to restricted visitation and heightened staff awareness of the importance of hand hygiene and proper use of personal protective equipment, as well as supply chain shortages, which may have influenced our outcome measure. RESULTS: Invasive MRSA infections were reduced from 0.131 to 0 per 1000 patient days during the initiative. This positive shift was sustained for 30 months, along with a delayed decrease in MRSA colonization rates. Several policy and practice changes regarding personnel hygiene and environmental cleaning likely contributed to this reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative aimed at infection prevention strategies led to a significant decrease in invasive MRSA infections in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Messaging of Different Disease Outcomes for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess how messaging for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to prevent different health outcomes (sexually transmitted infection, anogenital warts ([AGW], and/or cancer) influences intentions or initiation for the vaccine series. METHODS: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases for all previously published articles with an evaluation, discussion, or comparison of messages containing content about HPV infections, AGW, precancers, or cancer through June 3, 2021. Results about messages were summarized by study population and design. RESULTS: We identified 25 studies evaluating or comparing messages containing content about HPV-associated outcomes. Study designs included randomized trials (n = 12), cross-sectional surveys (n = 8), and qualitative approaches (n = 5). Few studies directly compared different messages using randomized designs or included vaccination uptake as the outcome. While many studies found support for cancer prevention messages, some studies also found equal or greater support for messages focusing on prevention of sexually transmitted infection/AGW. Variability was observed within and between studied populations (parents/adults, adolescents, young adults, healthcare providers, and adult males) and gender (male and female adolescents). DISCUSSION: A greater understanding and deeper attention to myriad health outcomes of HPV infections could increase vaccination uptake in a variety of populations for health promotion across the lifespan.

Evidence-based service delivery interventions for testing, linking, treating, and retaining children and adolescents living with HIV in primary health care settings: Protocol for a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: At the end of 2019, there were about 2.8 million children and adolescents aged 0-19 living with HIV. In contrast to pregnant women and adults, service delivery for children and adolescents living with HIV continues to lag behind with regard to access to care, components of care delivery, treatment options, and clinical and immunologic outcomes. AIM: The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence on the most effective interventions, models, programs, and strategies to optimize the delivery of services for the testing, linkage, treatment and retention of children and adolescents living with HIV globally. METHODS: This review protocol is registered at PROSPERO with Registration number: CRD42020209553. The systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will use a comprehensive search strategy to search several bibliographic databases including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Global Health, and Psycinfo to identify relevant studies published in the last ten years (2010 to 2020). In addition, we will review cited and citing references of included studies. A pair of reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts of articles, extract data from articles meeting inclusion criteria and perform quality assessments of the evidence collected. We will conduct a narrative synthesis of our findings, and if there are sufficient clinically similar studies available, we will conduct meta-analysis using a random-effects model. DISCUSSION: This review will provide evidence on service delivery models that have been evaluated in a range of settings to efficiently and effectively locate, link, treat and retain in care, children and adolescents living with HIV. The synthesized evidence will help guide national governments and health care providers in prioritizing and adopting evidence-based service delivery approaches for children and adolescents living with HIV. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020209553.

Clinical decision rule for obtaining peripheral blood cultures in febrile oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: The utility of peripheral blood cultures in pediatric oncology patients presenting with fever is controversial. A recent systematic review showed that about one in 40 bloodstream infections (BSIs) would be missed if only central venous line (CVL) cultures are obtained. OBJECTIVE: To derive a clinical decision rule for obtaining peripheral blood cultures in pediatric oncology patients presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with fever and a CVL. DESIGN/METHOD: A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric oncology patients referred to the PED for fever while on therapy. Logistic regression with a random intercept was used to determine independent predictors of BSI and generate a prediction model for obtaining peripheral blood cultures. The decision rule was generated from the best performance as measured by a receiver operator curve. Bootstrapping analysis was performed for internal validation. RESULTS: Predictors that were significant and independently associated with positive peripheral blood cultures included vasopressor support (odds ratio [OR] 16.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.80-97.71), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis (OR 6.9, 95% CI: 1.81-25.98), hypotension (OR 4.0, 95% CI: 1.05-15.17), mucositis (OR 8.2, 95% CI: 2.48-27.01), and maximum temperature in PED ≥39°C (OR 6.6, 95% CI: 2.36-18.20). The area under the curve (AUC) for this model was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82-0.97) in the derivation cohort and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.98) after the internal validation. CONCLUSIONS: We derived a clinical prediction model for deciding when to obtain peripheral blood cultures in febrile oncology patients with CVLs on active therapy. Future studies should focus on prospective and external validation of this diagnostic prediction tool.

Factors Associated With Receipt of Meningococcal B Vaccine Among United States Adolescents, National Immunization Survey-Teen, 2017-2018.

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated factors associated with receipt of meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine among adolescents in the United States. METHODS: We used public use data files from the National Immunization Survey-Teen from 2017 to 2018. Logistic regression was used to model associations among sociodemographic, healthcare, and vaccination variables of interest and MenB vaccine receipt (≥1 vs. 0 dose). To explore associations between state-level meningococcal vaccination requirements and MenB vaccine uptake, we performed a secondary analysis stratified by presence of a quadrivalent meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccination requirement for secondary school attendance in the adolescent's state of residence (no requirement vs. a one- or two-dose requirement). RESULTS: Among 7,288 adolescents, MenB vaccine receipt was significantly associated with up-to-date human papillomavirus (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.35) and MenACWY (aOR 5.81, 95% CI 4.14-8.13) vaccination status in multivariable analysis. Adolescents with private insurance were less likely to be vaccinated (aOR .61, 95% CI .46-.79) compared to adolescents with other health insurance types. In secondary analyses, health insurance was no longer significantly associated with MenB vaccine uptake among adolescents in states with a MenACWY requirement. CONCLUSIONS: We found that MenB vaccination is associated with receipt of other vaccines recommended for use in adolescents. Adolescents with private health insurance were less likely to be vaccinated against MenB, although state MenACWY requirements appeared to modify the effect of insurance on MenB vaccine receipt. Further work to understand how these factors may influence delivery and acceptance of MenB vaccine can inform interventions and strategies to improve uptake.

Suboptimal uptake of meningococcal vaccines among older adolescents: Barriers, solutions, and future research directions.

Over the past 15 y, several vaccines have been added to the recommended immunization schedule for adolescents in the United States. In addition to annual influenza vaccination, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for routine administration at ages 11-12 y, and a second dose of MenACWY at age 16. A vaccine against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B (MenB) is also available and recommended for shared clinical decision-making. Though notable gains in uptake have been achieved for some adolescent vaccines, coverage varies considerably with lower rates for HPV vaccine and second dose of MenACWY. Coverage for MenB is especially low. While extensive research has focused on barriers to and solutions for higher uptake of HPV vaccine, limited attention has been given to the reasons for lower uptake of meningococcal vaccines among older adolescents. This purpose of this commentary is to discuss barriers to and solutions for higher uptake of meningococcal vaccines among older adolescents, and to identify gaps in knowledge that can inform research efforts going forward.

Improving patient outcomes with regenerative medicine: How the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society plans to move the needle forward in cell manufacturing, standards, 3D bioprinting, artificial intelligence-enabled automation, education, and training.

The Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society (RMMS) is the first and only professional society dedicated toward advancing manufacturing solutions for the field of regenerative medicine. RMMS's vision is to provide greater patient access to regenerative medicine therapies through innovative manufacturing solutions. Our mission is to identify unmet needs and gaps in regenerative medicine manufacturing and catalyze the generation of new ideas and solutions by working with private and public stakeholders. We aim to accomplish our mission through outreach and education programs and securing grants for public-private collaborations in regenerative medicine manufacturing. This perspective will cover four impact areas that the society's leadership team has identified as critical: (a) cell manufacturing and scale-up/out, respectively, for allogeneic and autologous cell therapies, (b) standards for regenerative medicine, (c) 3D bioprinting, and (d) artificial intelligence-enabled automation. In addition to covering these areas and ways in which the society intends to advance the field in a collaborative nature, we will also discuss education and training. Education and training is an area that is critical for communicating the current challenges, developing solutions to accelerate the commercialization of the latest technological advances, and growing the workforce in the rapidly expanding sector of regenerative medicine.

Cognitive Bias in Clinicians' Communication about Human Papillomavirus Vaccination.

National guidelines recommend human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for all 11-12-year-olds, but uptake among United States adolescents remains low. A major barrier to greater uptake is the lack of effective recommendations for HPV vaccine from clinicians. One potential influence on clinicians' recommendations for HPV vaccine that has been relatively unexplored is that of cognitive biases, or errors in judgement that result from 'mental shortcuts' used to make decisions under uncertainty. Therefore, we analyzed qualitative data from interviews with 32 pediatric clinicians using a framework of nine cognitive biases relevant to HPV vaccination: omission bias, ambiguity aversion, present bias, availability bias, optimism bias, naturalness bias, protected values, anchoring bias, and confirmation bias. We used a directed content analysis approach to iteratively code and analyze all transcripts in the dataset. We found evidence for several cognitive biases that were related to weaker recommendations for HPV vaccine. Commonly identified biases included anchoring bias (perception that vaccination unnecessary due to age/pubertal status); present bias (perception of burdens related to discussing vaccination), and optimism bias (belief that patient at low risk for HPV acquisition). We found less frequent evidence for ambiguity aversion (perception of missing information regarding vaccination) and omission bias (deferring vaccination). Other biases were identified infrequently or not at all. Our findings suggest that several cognitive biases may be an influence on clinicians' communication about HPV vaccine. Raising awareness of cognitive biases related to making HPV vaccine recommendations could help to strengthen the recommendations that clinicians provide.

Up-to-date coverage with meningococcal vaccine among adolescents age 17 years: Patterns and correlates in the United States, 2017.

Limited research has explored reasons for low up-to-date coverage with meningococcal vaccine (UTD MenACWY) among adolescents at age 17 years. This analysis used National Immunization Survey-Teen data from 2017 to examine patterns of UTD MenACWY coverage. Correlates of higher UTD MenACWY coverage included black race and Hispanic ethnicity, residing in Northeast census region, recent health care visits, and receipt of recommendation for HPV vaccine. Median UTD MenACWY coverage was significantly higher in states with 1 and 2-dose requirements for school entry compared to no requirement; exemption policies were not associated. Approximately 13% of adolescents had a missed opportunity for UTD MenACWY. Future research should examine barriers to coverage at the patient, parent, provider and structural (clinic, social, policy) levels so that programs and interventions can be designed and implemented to increase coverage.

Lack of school requirements and clinician recommendations for human papillomavirus vaccination.

BACKGROUND: A strong recommendation from a clinician is one of the best predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents, yet many clinicians do not provide effective recommendations. The objective of this study was to understand how the lack of school entry requirements for HPV vaccination influences clinicians' recommendations. DESIGN AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 32 clinicians were conducted in 2015 in Connecticut USA. Data were analysed using an iterative thematic approach in 2016-2017. RESULTS: Many clinicians described presenting HPV vaccination as optional or non-urgent because it is not required for school entry. This was noted to be different from how other required vaccines were discussed. Even strong recommendations were often qualified by statements about the lack of requirements. Furthermore, lack of requirements was often raised initially by clinicians and not by parents. Many clinicians agreed that requirements would simplify the recommendation, but that parents may not agree with requirements. Personal opinions about school entry requirements were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: The current lack of school entry requirements for HPV vaccination is an important influence on clinicians' recommendations that are often framed as optional or non-urgent. Efforts are needed to strengthen the quality of clinicians' recommendations in a way that remains strong and focused on disease prevention yet uncoupled from the lack of requirements that may encourage delays. Additionally, greater support for requirements among clinicians may be needed to successfully enact requirements in the future.

Acceptability of School-Based Health Centers for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Visits: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Countries with high human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates have achieved this success largely through school-based vaccination. Using school-based health centers (SBHCs) in the United States, where HPV vaccine remains underutilized, could improve uptake. In this mixed-methods study, we examined acceptability, facilitators, and barriers of HPV vaccination visits at SBHCs from the perspectives of adolescents and parents. METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews and structured surveys with adolescents and parents recruited from an urban, hospital-based clinic. Interviews with parents (N = 20) and adolescents (N = 20) were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis using an iterative thematic approach. Quantitative measures for a survey administered to parents (N = 131) were derived from the qualitative findings. Survey results were analyzed by chi-square tests. RESULTS: Many participants expressed favorable opinions of HPV vaccination at SBHCs in qualitative interviews. Facilitators included convenience, ease of scheduling, and not missing work or school. However, barriers were noted including concerns about obtaining care outside the medical home, fragmentation of medical records, and negative perceptions about SBHCs. Quantitative findings revealed that a higher proportion of parents with experience using SBHCs were willing to use a middle school (59.5%) or high school (80.5%) SBHC for HPV vaccinations compared with those who had not used SBHCs (p < .05 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: HPV vaccination visits at SBHCs were acceptable, and SBHC users expressed more favorable attitudes. Barriers to HPV vaccination at SBHCs can be addressed through more education about SBHCs' role, and improvement of systems to coordinate care.

"It All Depends": A Qualitative Study of Parents' Views of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine for their Adolescents at Ages 11-12 years.

Routine vaccination with three doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescent girls and boys at 11 or 12 years of age; however, vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. To understand the reasons why parents may accept or refuse HPV vaccine for their children at age 11 or 12 years, we conducted a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents or guardians (n = 45) whose adolescents receive care at an urban, hospital-based primary care practice. Data were analyzed using an iterative thematic approach. We found that many parents expressed high levels of support for HPV vaccine, including a majority who agreed with vaccination at age 11-12 years. Parents recognized that for prevention of consequences of HPV infection, vaccination of their child early in adolescence was desirable conceptually. However, many parents also expressed that in practice, HPV vaccine should be given to adolescents at the onset of sexual activity, a perception that led to preferences to delay administration of HPV vaccine among certain parents. These apparently contradictory views indicate the need for interventions focused on the benefits of vaccination at the recommended ages. Our findings may be useful in providers' discussions with parents about the vaccine, as pediatric and adolescent health care providers have the unique opportunity to educate parents and clarify misconceptions about vaccination.

Parents' Recall and Reflections on Experiences Related to HPV Vaccination for Their Children.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in the United States. We conducted in-depth interviews with parents of adolescents from an urban primary care center serving a low-income minority population to describe their experiences. We identified the following themes: (a) parents of unvaccinated children generally had not discussed the vaccine with providers and had low awareness; (b) among unaware parents, provision of brief information generally resulted in positive comments about the vaccine; (c) vaccine was typically not requested by parents but rather offered by providers; (d) strength of the recommendations from providers varied, and vaccine was sometimes presented as optional or low priority; (e) parents had low awareness of the three-dose regimen and poor recall about completion; and (f) limited understanding of why boys should be vaccinated. More than 7 years after the introduction of HPV vaccine, there is substantial room for improving the way it is recommended and discussed by providers.

Infectious Diseases of Poverty in Children: A Tale of Two Worlds.

"Infectious diseases of poverty" (IDoP) describes infectious diseases that are more prevalent among poor and vulnerable populations, namely human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In 2013, 190,000 children died of HIV-related causes and there were 550,000 cases and 80,000 TB deaths in children. Children under age 5 account for 78% of malaria deaths annually. NTDs remain a public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries. This article provides an overview of the major IDoP that affect children. Clinicians must be familiar with the epidemiology and clinical manifestations to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Practice- and Community-Based Interventions to Increase Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Coverage: A Systematic Review.

IMPORTANCE: Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) are recommended for routine use in adolescents aged 11 to 12 years in the United States, but uptake remains suboptimal. Educational interventions focused on parents and patients to increase coverage have not generally demonstrated effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on effectiveness of interventions conducted at the practice or community level to increase uptake of HPV vaccines in the United States. EVIDENCE REVIEW: Keyword searches of the PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases identified studies of adolescents that included the outcome of HPV vaccination published through July 2014. References of identified articles were also reviewed. A total of 366 records were screened, 38 full-text articles were reviewed, and 14 published studies were included. Results were summarized by different intervention approaches. FINDINGS: Practice- and community-based intervention approaches included reminder and recall (n = 7), physician-focused interventions (eg, audit and feedback) (n = 6), school-based programs (n = 2), and social marketing (n = 2) (2 interventions tested multiple approaches). Seven studies used a randomized design, and 8 used quasiexperimental approaches (one used both). Thirteen studies included girls, and 2 studies included boys. Studies were conducted in a variety of populations and geographic locations. Twelve studies reported significant increases in at least one HPV vaccination outcome, one reported a nonsignificant increase, and one reported mixed effects. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Most practice- and community-based interventions significantly increased HPV vaccination rates using varied approaches across diverse populations. This finding is in stark contrast to a recent review that did not find effects to warrant widespread implementation for any educational intervention. To address the current suboptimal rates of HPV vaccination in the United States, future efforts should focus on programs that can be implemented within health care settings, such as reminder and recall strategies and physician-focused efforts, as well as the use of alternative community-based locations, such as schools.

Parents' views on human papillomavirus vaccination for sexually transmissible infection prevention: a qualitative study.

UNLABELLED: Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmissible infection (STI) in the United States (US) and an important cause of several cancers. Vaccines that prevent HPV infections are now recommended for routine use in adolescents but coverage remains suboptimal in the US. Because they are often promoted as cancer prevention vaccines, little is known about parents' views on vaccination for prevention of an STI. METHODS: In this qualitative study, parents and caregivers of children ages 10-18 years completed an in-depth interview. Participants (n=38) were recruited from an urban hospital-based primary care centre serving a low-income population in the north-eastern US during May 2013-February 2014. Interviews were transcribed and coded using a thematic content approach. RESULTS: Five major themes emerged with relevance to the topic of HPV vaccination for STI prevention: (1) low awareness of HPV as an STI; (2) favourable opinions about STI prevention messages for vaccination, including at young ages; (3) salience of sexual mode of transmission, given the unpredictability of adolescent sexual behaviour and high rates of other STIs and teen pregnancy; (4) recognition that sexual health is a topic of conversation between adolescents and health care providers; and(5) relevance of personal experience. CONCLUSIONS: Discussing STI prevention in the context of HPV vaccination appears to be well accepted by urban, low-income minority families. In addition to providing information on cancer prevention, these messages may help to raise awareness, acceptability and uptake of HPV vaccines.