German HPV survey finds gaps in parental knowledge and recalled vaccine recommendations

A cross-sectional telephone survey conducted in Germany in autumn 2023 examined HPV vaccination knowledge, attitudes and intentions among 1,508 parents or guardians of children aged 9–14 years, alongside counselling practices among 503 healthcare workers from paediatric practices. Researchers used weighted responses to assess potential barriers to uptake against a background of low HPV vaccination coverage.

Parents or guardians reported that 34.5% of their children were already vaccinated; 24.8% reported high vaccination intention, 5.6% opposed vaccination and 35.2% were classified as vaccine hesitant. Both respondent groups considered vaccination more important for females than males (p < 0.001). Parents overestimated alternative measures, including condom use, for cancer prevention, while healthcare workers expressed uncertainty about HPV infection risk.

Paediatricians were reported to have the strongest influence on parental vaccination decisions. However, 97% of healthcare workers said they recommended HPV vaccination, whereas only 43.7% of parents or guardians recalled receiving a recommendation. The findings support timely, explicit recommendations and tailored education addressing vaccination in both sexes. As a cross-sectional, self-reported survey, the study cannot establish causality or determine whether the recommendation gap reflects differences in delivery, recall or respondent populations.