Developing and Evaluating a Novel Approach to Improve HPV Vaccination Coverage Among High-risk, Under-immunized Adults Via the Emergency Department

Developing and Evaluating a Novel Approach to Improve HPV Vaccination Coverage Among High-risk, Under-immunized Adults Via the Emergency Department

To determine if the emergency department (ED) setting offers a viable space for improving HPV vaccination coverage among 18 to 45-year-old adults who have not yet received human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination or who did not complete the vaccine series. This study will develop, pilot and evaluate an ED-based HPV vaccination protocol and program for ED patients aged 18-26 (for whom catch-up HPV vaccination is routinely recommended by the CDC) and separately for patients aged 27-45 (for whom it may be recommended under shared decision making, SDM).

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18-45 years old
• in good functional capacity, as determined by the ED-attending clinician
• no known infection with HPV high risk strain types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

Exclusion Criteria:

• will not receive vaccine if participants lack mental clarity and if running a fever or in some pain.
• Patients aged <18 or > 45 years of age.
• Female patients with abnormal HPV results (including those with the high-risk HPV strain types 6, 11, 16, and 18) as determined by a previous PAP smear test or HPV test.
• Female patients who are known to be pregnant.
• Male patients with known cases of HPV-associated infections will also be excluded from the study