Human papillomavirus vaccine coverage among immigrant adolescents in Alberta: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Little is known about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among immigrant children in Canada. We conducted a study in Alberta, Canada to assess HPV vaccine coverage among school-aged immigrant children compared with non-immigrant children.

Methods: This cohort study analysed population-based linked administrative health data to measure HPV vaccine coverage for 346 749 school-aged children, including 31 656 immigrants. Coverage was examined at 12 y of age from 2008 to 2018 for females, and from 2014 to 2018 for males and both sexes combined; vaccine series completion was considered receipt of three doses, with initiation (one or more dose) as a supplementary analysis. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association of vaccine coverage with migration status, adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Results: Between 2014 and 2018, HPV vaccination coverage among immigrant children at age 12 y was significantly higher (52.58%) compared with non-immigrant children (47.41%). After controlling for place of residence, income quintile, biological sex and year, immigrant children had 1.10 greater odds (95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.14) of receiving three doses of HPV vaccine compared with non-immigrant children. Immigrants from Asia and Africa had the highest coverage (60.25-68.78%), while immigrants from North America, Oceania and South America had the lowest coverage (39.97-48.36%).

Conclusions: It is encouraging that immigrant children had higher HPV vaccine coverage compared with non-immigrants. Among immigrants, routine immunization promotion strategies should be tailored based on the country of origin.