HPV Vaccine Hesitancy Among Indiana Youth with Cancer and Blood Diseases

Vaccines have always been a controversial subject. Prior to COVID, the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine was once the most controversial vaccine. Some people have tremendous faith in vaccines and believe everyone should get vaccinated. Some other people have zero faith in vaccines. Everyone has a right to feel the way they do. The purpose of this study is to learn about parents’ opinions towards vaccinating children with chronic hematologic and oncologic conditions against HPV. The purpose is not to “correct” a group of parents’ opinions on vaccines, but to gather as much information as possible on the different opinions that exist. Though there are multiple vaccines, this study focuses on the HPV vaccine due to the lack of knowledge on the virus and on its vaccine. The Human Papillomavirus is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection, and there is no cure for it. This study is a two-part study. The first part, which consisted of interviewing eligible parents, has already been completed. We are now on the second part of the study that requires parents or young adults that are eligible to complete an online survey either in clinic, via a letter, via a flyer, or via social media.