Healthcare professionals’ perceptions and recommendations regarding adolescent vaccinations in Georgia and Tennessee during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative research

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Olufunto A Olusanya, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Brianna White, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Fauzia Malik, Emory University; Kyra A Hester, Emory University; Robert L Davis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Robert Bednarczyk, Emory University; Arash Shaban-Nejad, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-11-01
• Publisher: PLoS ONE
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 Olusanya et al
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277748
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS ONE
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 11 November
• Start Page: e0277748
• End Page: e0277748
• Grant/Funding Information: R.B., R.D., and A.S. received the Grant# 1R37CA234119-01A1 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). No.; The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
• Keywords: Papillomavirus Vaccines; Humans; Health Personnel; United States; Vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; Adolescent; Pandemics; Papillomavirus Infections; COVID-19; Qualitative Research; Tennessee; Georgia; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Introduction Despite its benefits, HPV vaccine uptake has been historically lower than other recommended adolescent vaccines in the United States (US). While hesitancy and misinformation have threatened vaccinations for many years, the adverse impacts from COVID-19 pandemic on preventive services have been far-reaching. Objectives To explore the perceptions and experiences of adolescent healthcare providers regarding routine vaccination services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology Between December 2020 and May 2021, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted via Zoom video conferencing among a purposively selected, diverse group of adolescent healthcare providers (n = 16) within 5 healthcare practices in the US southeastern states of Georgia and Tennessee. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a rapid qualitative analysis framework. Our analysis was guided by the grounded theory and inductive approach. Results Participants reported that patient-provider communications; effective use of presumptive languaging; provider’s continuing education/training; periodic reminders/recall messages; provider’s personal conviction on vaccine safety/efficacy; early initiation of HPV vaccination series at 9 years; community partnerships with community health navigators/vaccine champions/vaccine advocates; use of standardized forms/prewritten scripts/standard operating protocols for patient-provider interactions; and vaccine promotion through social media, brochures/posters/pamphlets as well as outreaches to schools and churches served as facilitators to adolescent HPV vaccine uptake. Preventive adolescent services were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at all practices. Participants highlighted an initial decrease in patients due to the pandemic, while some practices avoided the distribution of vaccine informational materials due to sanitary concerns. Conclusion As part of a larger study, we provided contextual information to refine an intervention package currently being developed to improve adolescent preventive care provision in healthcare practices. Our results could inform the implementation of comprehensive intervention strategies that improve HPV vaccination rates. Additionally, lessons learned (e.g. optimizing patient- provider interactions) could be adopted to expand COVID-19 vaccine acceptance on a sizable scale.