HPV Message Testing and Social Media Campaign

This project involves a social media campaign to increase parent's knowledge and acceptance of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. The current vaccine protects against nine types of HPV, including seven that are known to cause cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the current HPV vaccine could prevent 90% of cancer cases caused by HPV, including cases of cervical cancer, oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer, anal cancer, and others. About 150 and 104 cases of HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed each year in New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively-many of which could be prevented through vaccination. Currently, only 49.8% of New Hampshire adolescents and 44.3% of Vermont adolescents were not up-to-date for HPV vaccination as of 2016. This social media campaign is testing a set of campaign messages with parents locally and nationally to see which messages are most effective in improving their knowledge and acceptance of the vaccine. A study survey link will monitor the number of people reached and will measure parental intention to get their children vaccinated against HPV.