Young Adult Human Papillomavirus and Influenza Vaccine Coverage: A Comparison Across College Enrollment Status

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kara Mathewson, Emory University; Maria Sundaram, Emory University; Robert Bednarczyk, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-05-15
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00833-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Community Health
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 13
• End Page: 21
• Grant/Funding Information: No external funding was used for conducting The Young Adult Health Care Study.; Dr. Bednarczyk is supported by National Institutes of Health (Grant K01AI106961).; Dr. Sundaram is supported by the Emory Vaccinology Training Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Award T32AI074492).
• Keywords: Knowledge; Immunization status; Attitudes; Health Care Sciences & Services; Preventive health services; Science & Technology; College enrollment; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Young adults; United States; Receipt; Vaccination; Health Policy & Services; Community health; Affordable Care Act; Students; Race/ethnicity; Provider recommendation; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

To determine human papillomavirus and influenza vaccine coverage among young adults in the US and assess differences in vaccine uptake by college enrollment status, we conducted an online survey of young adults aged 18–26 (n = 417) using Survey Monkey, with recruitment occurring through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) platform. We collected data on self-reported preventive health behaviors, including vaccine receipt, current college enrollment status, and other demographics. Overall, 49% of participants reported receiving at least one dose of human papillomavirus vaccine and 57% reported receiving at least one influenza vaccine over the past three years. Vaccine coverage estimates did not differ between college-enrolled and non-enrolled respondents. Low vaccine coverage rates demonstrate the need to improve vaccine strategies for young adults. The strongest predictor of vaccine receipt was having received a provider recommendation. There does not appear to be healthcare utilization differences related to ability to access care through student health or community-based settings. Additional research is needed to develop interventions to improve vaccination coverage among young adults, both currently enrolled and not enrolled in college.