Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2023 Sep;33(3):76-79. 10.46246/KJAsEM.230014.

Comparison and Prediction of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Trends among Koreans and Foreigners

• Lim J

• KMID: 2546524
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.46246/KJAsEM.230014

Abstract

Purpose
This study offers a comprehensive analysis comparing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination status between Korean and foreign patients.
Methods
The analysis used data from 30,216 patients treated at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2017 to June 2023. It examines variations in the rate of vaccine administration by nationality, sex, age, and vaccination date.
Results
Despite observing an overall increase in HPV vaccination rates in both Korean and foreigners, the study found the impact of COVID-19 was significantly more severe on foreign patients, particularly those over the age of 30. Additionally, a larger sex discrepancy in HPV vaccine uptake was noticed among foreign patients compared to Korean. A considerable number of foreign vaccine recipients were in their 20s, suggesting a predisposition to seek health care abroad.
Conclusion
The study emphasizes the importance of further research and policy adjustments to encourage HPV vaccination uptake across diverse demographics. The value of multi-institutional studies is also highlighted to improve the applicability of these findings.

Keyword

Papillomavirus vaccines; COVID-19; Travel medicine