Increasing Vaccine Uptake Among Adolescents in the Rural South

A Tailored School-based Intervention to INcrease VaccinE Uptake Among adoleScenTs (INVEST) in the Rural South

The benefits of adolescent vaccines are well known for preventing meningococcal infection and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related pre-cancerous lesions. Yet, many adolescents in the United States (US) remain under-vaccinated, with vaccination rates among rural adolescents significantly lower than among their urban peers. In addition, there are urban-rural disparities in the coverage of HPV vaccine, particularly in Southern states like North and South Carolina, which currently fall below the Healthy People 2020 goal of ≥80% coverage. The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a school-based intervention for increasing vaccine uptake among adolescents in rural North and South Carolina.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Any public middle school in Cherokee County, South Carolina or Rockingham County, North Carolina school districts