Evaluation of the First-Year Data from an HPV Vaccination Van Program in South Carolina, US

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are linked to at least six different types of cancer. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) and Department of Pediatrics leaders identified suboptimal rates of HPV vaccinations in rural and medically underserved communities in South Carolina (SC). To address this major public health problem in SC, they received funding from the HealthyMe/HealthySC (HMHSC) program and HCC to create a statewide community engagement-focused HPV Vaccination Van Program in October 2021. The Program provides HPV vaccinations and other childhood immunizations in school districts and HMHSC health clinics throughout SC, focusing on children aged 9-18 who are eligible for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccines for Children Program. As of 14 December 2022, the Program administered vaccinations in 16 counties of SC to 552 participants, 243 of whom received HPV vaccinations and were predominantly female (57.2%), aged 4-18 (95.9%), and self-identified as White (44.0%), Black (33.2%), or Hispanic/Latino (15.1%). Most had Medicaid (53.1%)/no insurance coverage (25.1%). The Program is expected to expand as the Program's relationship with SC's school districts grows. The Program provides a model for delivering mobile HPV vaccinations to rural children, thus reducing their cancer risk.