Comparison of COVID-19 and human papillomavirus vaccination readiness among female students in Poland

Introduction. This study explores the knowledge and attitudes of Polish female students toward the COVID-19 and HPV vaccines and attempts to identify correlations between them. Material and methods. The study was conducted between March and December 2022 among 503 female students in Krakow, and a validated questionnaire was used to assess their state of knowledge about the HPV virus and its impact on the development of cervical cancer, the effectiveness of vaccinations and their availability, their knowledge about vaccinations against COVID-19, their availability and effectiveness, their vaccination status and their willingness to continue them. Additionally, the survey included questions about the sources of information used by the respondents. Results. Nearly all the respondents were aware of the COVID-19 vaccine; 80.4% were vaccinated, whereas 53.1% were aware, and 18% were vaccinated for HPV. No statistically significant correlations were observed between vaccinations. Respondents vaccinated with one vaccine, either against HPV or COVID-19, were not more willing to be vaccinated with the second vaccine. There are statistically significant differences in knowledge about the availability, effectiveness and cost of the HPV vaccine with respect to the age of the respondent, the place of living and the type of school. No such differences were found in the COVID-19 vaccination group. The internet (88.1%) and family and friends (57.1%) are the most popular sources of information about vaccines, whereas educational leaflets (14.1%) and the press (19.5%) are the least trusted sources. Conclusions. There is a critical need to increase HPV vaccine awareness in Poland. Public health efforts should focus on increasing education and trust in medical authorities to improve vaccination rates. High COVID-19 vaccine uptake is the result of targeted educational campaigns, reimbursement policies, and the accessibility of vaccination services. HPV vaccination campaigns should draw inspiration from these successful strategies, particularly within the same age group, to achieve similar outcomes.