Publication date: Dec 15, 2025
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and COVID-19 can be prevented and mitigated by vaccines. Few studies have focused on dentists’ role in vaccine decision making, and even fewer have explored adolescent perspectives; a target population for both vaccinations. This study aimed to address this gap with a focus on whether opinions vary between diseases. We administered a validated cross-sectional survey to adolescent patients (11-19 years) in an orthodontic clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia from July-August 2023. The survey included questions pertaining to patient background, vaccine history and knowledge, and dentists’ roles in vaccination education, discussion, and administration. Responses were compiled and analyzed to determine differences between vaccines and across demographic groups. Adolescents surveyed (n=93) overall agreed with dentist involvement in COVID-19 and HPV vaccines, with variability according to disease and dentist role. Comfort with dentist-administered vaccines was higher for COVID-19 (60 %) than HPV (37 %, p
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| British | COVID-19 |
| Dentists | decision making |
| July | HPV |
| Papillomavirus | vaccines |
| Vaccination |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | included |