Exploring Gender/Sexuality Disparities Within HPV Vaccination Messaging

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Historically vaccination protocols have primarily targeted women, which has led to an underrepresentation of how the virus could affect the male population. The FDA approved to administer the HPV vaccination to boys and young men in 2009 (Gutierrez, et al., 2012). Given the recent approval of the vaccine, many experts continue to observe gender biased messaging in HPV-related public health advertisements(Leader, et al., 2022). This study aims to address the specific elements of Merck's advertisement and how it affects the viewers understanding of the HPV vaccine.