Using Invitation Letters to Increase HPV Vaccination Among Adult Women

(1) Background: In Manitoba, most people get the HPV vaccine in the publicly-funded school-based program. If they miss the school-based program, they remain eligible for the free HPV immunization program. This study explored whether invitation and reminder letters would increase HPV vaccine uptake among adult women who remained eligible for the publicly-funded program. (2) Methods: Eligible individuals were randomized into three groups of 4,650 women. Intervention groups I and II were mailed an information package inviting them to be vaccinated. Six weeks later, intervention group II received a reminder letter if they remained unvaccinated. Vaccination status, defined as at least one dose of an approved HPV vaccine, was calculated six months after the packages were mailed. (3) Results: 4.0% of individuals in intervention group II (invitation/reminder) and 2.5% of individuals in intervention group I (invitation) received one dose of the HPV vaccine. Compared to the control group, sending invitation/reminder and invitation packages increased the likelihood of getting at least one dose of the HPV vaccine by 4.9 times (3.4 - 6.9) and 3.0 (2.1 - 4.4) times, respectively. (4) Conclusion: Sending invitation and reminder letters to unvaccinated women may be an effective and low-cost way to increase HPV vaccination coverage among adults who are eligible for the publicly-funded immunization program.