Integrative literature review on human papillomavirus vaccination recommendations in national immunization programs in select areas in the Asia-Pacific region.

There is limited literature on current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the Asia-Pacific region. This integrative literature review was conducted to describe HPV vaccination programs in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Program descriptions, recommendations, f unding, and coverage data were extracted. Twenty-five citations were included. As of 2022, eight of the 10 areas of interest include HPV in their national immunization program (NIP) for school-aged girls; full implementation in Indonesia is expected in 2023 whereas Vietnam's NIP does not include HPV. Singapore also includes HPV vaccination for women (18-26 years). None of the HPV vaccination programs include males. In most areas (n = 7), programs include only one vaccine option. While female HPV NIPs are present in the Asia-Pacific region, opportunities remain to strengthen NIPs in broader populations (e.g., males, catch-up cohorts) to expand public health impact and provide gender equity in HPV vaccination.

Prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infection among the general adult population in Hong Kong.

A cross-sectional study in 2021-23 collected oral rinse gargle samples from an human papillomaviruses (HPV) vaccine-naïve general adult population in Hong Kong. HPV was detected by a PCR using SPF10 primers, and genotyped by a linear array covering 25 genotypes. Epidemiologic information including sociodemographics, medical history, oral health, and sexual behavior were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Altogether, 2323 subjects aged 18-75 (median 47) years with 50.1% male were recruited. The prevalence for oral HPV infection with all genotypes combined, high-risk, and low-risk genotypes was 1.5%, 0.7%, and 0.7%, respectively; and with no statistically significant difference between participant gender. The prevalence increased with age and was highest in women at 45-54 years (2.7% for all genotypes combined), and highest in men aged >64 years (4.1% for all genotypes combined). HPV52 was the most common genotype among all participants. Univariate analysis suggested more lifetime sexual or oral sexual partners as risk factors, but they did not reach statistical significance upon multivariate analysis; whereas higher educational level had an independent protective effect. To conclude, oral HPV prevalence increased with age in Hong Kong. Strategies to prevent oral HPV infection and the associated cancers are urgently needed.

Economic and humanistic burden of HPV-related disease in Indonesia: A qualitative analysis.

The burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-related cancers and genital warts is increasing in developing countries, including Indonesia. The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore the humanistic and economic burden of these HPV-related diseases in patients in Indonesia. In 2021, in-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with patients (N = 18) with HPV-related diseases and healthcare professionals (HCPs; N = 10) specialised in treating these patients. Interviews explored the physical, mental, social, and economic burden of HPV-related diseases. Patients emphasised the psychological and social burden of HPV-related diseases, which negatively impacted their mental state and close relationships. Treatment for HPV-related diseases was also associated with a substantial cost, which health insurance only partially alleviated. HCPs understood the physical negative impact of HPV-related diseases, but some understated patients' social, psychological, and financial burden. This research underscores the substantial economic and humanistic burden of HPV-related diseases that could be prevented by vaccination. In addition, it highlights the need for novel interventions to reduce negative psychosocial consequences of HPV-related diseases in Indonesia. Increased HCP education of the broader humanistic impacts of HPV-related diseases may improve patient support and increase awareness for preventive strategy.

Health impact and cost-effectiveness of implementing gender-neutral vaccination with the 9-valent HPV vaccine in Hong Kong.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause several diseases, including cancers, in both sexes. In January 2020, the Hong Kong government launched a school-based vaccination program for girls 10-12 years of age with the 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccine for the prevention of HPV-related diseases; however, boys were not included. The current study estimated the potential health and economic impact of a routine gender-neutral vaccination (GNV) approach compared with the current female-only vaccination (FOV) strategy. We used a dynamic transmission model, adapted to Hong Kong. The model estimates changes in HPV-related disease incidence and mortality, treatment costs (in 2019 Hong Kong dollars), quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) over a 100-year time horizon. The base case analysis compared FOV with the 9vHPV vaccine with routine GNV (coverage rate 70%) for the prevention of HPV-related diseases. Compared with a FOV approach, routine GNV with the 9vHPV vaccine is predicted to provide greater reductions in cumulative HPV-related disease incidence and mortality, as well as lower HPV-related treatment costs. In the base case analysis, the ICER was $248,354 per QALY for routine GNV. As compared with FOV, routine GNV fell below the cost-effectiveness ceiling of $382,046/year for Hong Kong. These results highlight the potential value of a routine GNV program with the 9vHPV vaccine among 12-year-olds in Hong Kong to reduce the public health and economic burden of HPV-related diseases.

The Clinical and Economic Impact of a Nonavalent Versus Bivalent Human Papillomavirus National Vaccination Program in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the epidemiologic and economic impact of a nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program for 13- to 14-year-old females compared with that of the bivalent vaccine in Taiwan. METHODS: A previously developed dynamic transmission model for the nonavalent HPV vaccine was adapted to the Taiwan setting. The natural history of cervical cancer and genital warts was simulated by the HPV model assuming an 80% vaccination coverage rate in girls aged 13 to 14 years of age with a 2-dose schedule for the nonavalent and bivalent HPV vaccines. A lifetime duration of vaccine protection was assumed for the HPV vaccine types. RESULTS: The model estimated that the nonavalent HPV vaccine would prevent an additional 15 951 cervical cancer cases, 6600 cervical cancer-related deaths, 176 702 grade 2 or grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia cases, 103 959 grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia cases, and 1 115 317 genital warts cases compared with the bivalent HPV vaccine. The nonavalent HPV vaccination program was projected to cost an additional New Taiwan dollars (NTD) 675.21 per person and to produce an additional 0.00271 quality-adjusted life-year per person over 100 years compared with the bivalent HPV vaccine. Thus, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the nonavalent HPV vaccine versus the bivalent HPV vaccine was NTD 249 462/quality-adjusted life-year. CONCLUSIONS: A nonavalent HPV vaccination program for 13- to 14-year-old girls would have additional public health and economic impacts and would be highly cost-effective compared with the bivalent HPV vaccine, relative to per capita gross domestic product, which is estimated at NTD 746 526 for Taiwan.