The ongoing structuring of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in middle schools in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Context: As is the case throughout France, vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is too low to limit viral circulation and to have an impact on the incidence of virus-induced pathologies.

Intervention methodology: The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS) has decided to set up a large-scale vaccination action in the 7th-grade classes of all 643 Nouvelle-Aquitaine middle schools during the 2023-2024 school year. This public health intervention targeting 11-to-13-year-olds shall bring together national education, health Insurance, the regional center for pharmaco-vigilance, and private health professionals. A call for applications (January 2023) led to the recruitment of vaccination centers tasked with the deployment of mobile teams. A tool for dematerialization of parental authorization was devised. A communication agency was recruited (March 2023) to set up targeted social marketing actions and increase the rate of adherence.

Expected results: Close to 25% of parents are likely to respond favorably to the vaccination offer. The project should help not only to increase vaccination coverage of adolescents through intervention in middle schools, but also have an impact on the demand for vaccination among city-based healthcare professionals.

Conclusion: Increased vaccination coverage should ultimately reduce the incidence of HPV-induced pathologies. A catch-up campaign could be carried out in high schools from the 2027/2028 school year.