Objectives: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Japan has been hindered dramatically since June 2013, as a result of media reports on the adverse events following the HPV vaccine. To improve this situation, we used a web-based questionnaire to analyze the influence of the media on Japanese young women’s awareness and actions related to the HPV vaccination.
Methods: From December 2014 to January 2016, advertising banners targeting women in Japan aged 20 to 29 years were placed on Facebook and on a homepage advertising our cervical cancer advocacy activities. Eligible participants were emailed instructions for accessing a secure website where they were able to complete a web-based survey including questions on their awareness of the HPV vaccination and the adverse events associated with it.
Results: Among the 1188 women who expressed an interest in participating, 655 (55.1%) completed the survey. Participants had high awareness of the HPV vaccine (600/655, 91.7%) and of the adverse events associated with it (528/655, 80.6%). However, only 9.6% (63/655) had discussed the necessity of receiving the HPV vaccination with doctors and/or medical staff members. Of the 20.9% (137/655) who were vaccinated, 59.9% (82/137) had received the vaccination before the suspension of the HPV vaccine promotion by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan in June 2013; only 7.3% (10/137) were vaccinated after this date. Most participants (80.6%, 528/655) knew about the adverse events associated with the HPV vaccination, mainly from watching television programs (80.9%, 427/528). As reasons why they did not receive the vaccination, unvaccinated participants (79.1%, 518/655) listed adverse events (61.6%), lack of need for the vaccination (60.6%), and having regular screenings (40.7%).
Conclusions: A series of media reports about adverse events associated with the HPV vaccine caused young women in Japan to avoid HPV vaccination. Stakeholders and the academic community in Japan must deliver an evidence-based and easy-to-understand message about the HPV vaccine directly to women.