Parents’ receptiveness to oral health clinic-based vaccination

Abstract

In the United States, utilization of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has lagged far below public health goals for achieving satisfactory population-level protection against HPV associated cancers. Oral health professionals such as dentists and dental hygienists are important stakeholders in primary prevention of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. We surveyed parents accompanying children to a local pediatric oral health clinic to ascertain their receptiveness to engaging their child’s oral health team in their child’s immunizations. Parents were generally receptive (86%) to discussing vaccines available for their children with both their child’s dentist and dental hygienist. The majority of parents (79%) reported that they would allow their child’s dentist to administer a vaccine to their child. Oral health providers are trusted healthcare professionals poised to make a positive impact on adolescent vaccination programs and they should be included in efforts to improve HPV vaccination rates.