Using Hepatitis A and B Vaccination as a Paradigm for Effective HIV Vaccine Delivery

"An understanding of vaccine acceptance and uptake is imperative for successful vaccination of populations that will be primary targets for vaccination after a vaccine against HIV is developed and ready for dissemination," researchers wrote. In the current study, the authors reviewed published research of vaccination against vaccine-preventable hepatitis (VPH) among men who have sex with men (MSM), seeing how they might offer insights about future HIV vaccination strategies. The authors sought to explore what is known about vaccination among US MSM in the VPH vaccination literature, and to identify important considerations from these experiences that would require further review as a vaccine against HIV is promoted among MSM.

After conducting a qualitative systematic assessment of published reports, the researchers identified eight studies that reported correlates of VPH among US MSM.

Six major vaccination correlates were identified: demographics (e.g. younger age, higher educational attainment); increased knowledge about vaccines; increased access to health care; provider recommendation; behaviors (e.g. same-sex behavior, health-promoting and disease-preventing behaviors); and psychosocial factors (e.g. openness about one's sexual orientation, self-efficacy, reduced barriers to being vaccinated).

"Further research is needed to understand vaccination behavior among MSM and to maximize acceptance and uptake after a vaccine exists. Experience with VPH provide a real-world model on which to base preliminary assumptions about acceptance and uptake of a vaccine against HIV," the authors concluded.

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