Problems with catch-up HPV vaccination after resumption of proactive recommendations.

Abstract

We previously reported that the suspension of the proactive recommendation for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Japan led to an increase in infection rates and incidence of cytological abnormalities, 1 Sekine M Yamaguchi M Kudo R et al. Suspension of proactive recommendations for HPV vaccination has led to a significant increase in HPV infection rates in young Japanese women: real-world data. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2021; 16100300 PubMed Google Scholar , 2 Yagi A Ueda Y Ikeda S et al. The looming health hazard: a wave of HPV-related cancers in Japan is becoming a reality due to the continued suspension of the governmental recommendation of HPV vaccine. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2022; 18100327 PubMed Google Scholar and appealed for proactive recommendations to be reinstated. 3 Ueda Y Yagi A Ikeda S Enomoto T Kimura T Beyond resumption of the Japanese government's recommendation of the HPV vaccine. Lancet Oncol. 2018; 19: 1563-1564 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (15) Google Scholar In response to our findings, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare resumed proactive recommendations for the HPV vaccine in April, 2022, and initiated catch-up vaccinations for women who might have missed the opportunity to receive the vaccine during the period when proactive recommendations were suspended. 4 Haruyama R Obara H Fujita N Japan resumes active recommendations of HPV vaccine after 8·5 years of suspension. Lancet Oncol. 2022; 23: 197-198 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar A large proportion of women in the target age group (17–25 years) in Japan's fiscal year 2022 will be eligible for the recommended catch-up vaccination (figure). 5 Nakagawa S Ueda Y Yagi A Ikeda S Hiramatsu K Kimura T Corrected human papillomavirus vaccination rates for each birth fiscal year in Japan. Cancer Sci. 2020; 111: 2156-2162 Crossref PubMed Scopus (24) Google Scholar To reduce the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in Japan, a catch-up vaccination programme with at least 50% coverage will be required. 6 Simms KT Hanley SJB Smith MA Keane A Canfell K Impact of HPV vaccine hesitancy on cervical cancer in Japan: a modelling study. Lancet Public Health. 2020; 5: e223-e234 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (89) Google Scholar To date, England, Sweden, Denmark, and the USA have successfully implemented national catch-up HPV vaccination programmes. In these countries, catch-up vaccination has been reported to have substantially reduced the incidence of cervical precancer and invasive cancer. However, in England, low vaccination coverage among the catch-up generation has been reported. Coverage of three doses of the HPV vaccine was high for women who received the routine vaccination at age 12–13 years (80·9–88·0%), but lower for the catch-up cohorts (70·8–75·7% for age 14–16 years, and 38·9–48·1% for age 16–18 years). 7 Falcaro M Castañon A Ndlela B et al. The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study. Lancet. 2021; 398: 2084-2092 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (116) Google Scholar Catch-up vaccination is challenging in Japan because no national HPV vaccine register exists, and immunisation histories are maintained individually by each municipality (approximately 1700) that has provided routine vaccinations. 8 Yamaguchi M Sekine M Kudo R et al. Differential misclassification between self-reported status and official HPV vaccination records in Japan: implications for evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness. Papillomavirus Res. 2018; 6: 6-10 Crossref PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar For example, if a woman who received the HPV vaccination at age 12–16 years in one municipality moves to a residential address in another municipality, it would not be possible to ascertain her vaccination history from the previous municipality. Thus, a woman who has received three doses of the HPV vaccine in one municipality would be advised to receive three more doses of the HPV vaccine if she moved to another municipality. Thus, the vaccination programme will rely on patient recall regarding personal vaccination history. In our previous study, 1230 women aged 20–22 years between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2017 were asked in a questionnaire whether they had been vaccinated in the past. 140/308 (45·5%) of those who responded that they had not been vaccinated had received 1–3 doses of the vaccine. 8 Yamaguchi M Sekine M Kudo R et al. Differential misclassification between self-reported status and official HPV vaccination records in Japan: implications for evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness. Papillomavirus Res. 2018; 6: 6-10 Crossref PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar In our current analysis of 1778 women aged 20–26 years in fiscal year 2020 (appendix), 199/879 (22·6%) of those vaccinated reported that they had never been vaccinated. Recall of women who visited clinics with their parents at age 12–16 years and received the HPV vaccine was poor.