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A new wave of HPV vaccine hesitancy is spreading across the United States, worrying public health experts as coverage stalls and disparities grow. In a new study by researchers including Associate Professor Spring Cooper and doctoral students Ingrid Williams and Aisha King, over 55% of parents and caregivers in the Northeast and Southeast expressed reluctance about vaccinating their children—a trend that has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine care and stoked vaccine skepticism.
Cooper and colleagues found that hesitancy was highest among male caregivers, as well as American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian families. Residents of the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic were notably more hesitant than their Northeast counterparts. Misinformation, medical mistrust, and cultural concerns—particularly among communities of color—are fueling doubts. Public health leaders point to the urgent need for campaigns that target male caregivers and deliver culturally relevant, factual messages, especially in regions where skepticism is rampant.
“Declining HPV vaccinations threaten the progress made against several types of cancer, with lower rates placing minority groups at even greater risk,” says Cooper. “These findings call for a renewed focus on trusted community voices, innovative education, and tailored outreach to close persistent vaccination gaps and protect public health.”
