The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the prevalence of genital warts and the cancers they are associated with in males. However, the vaccination of males has always been neglected. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehend the acceptability of the HPV vaccine in men and the factors impacting vaccination intentions. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, CNKI, and Wan Fang up to 5 July 2023 for studies that reported HPV vaccine acceptance among men. A random effects model was used to obtain the pooled acceptance rate, and subgroup analysis was performed. Then, the influencing factors of HPV vaccination in males were analyzed. A total of 57 studies with 32,962 samples were included in the analysis. The overall acceptance rate of the HPV vaccine in general men was 47.04% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 39.23–54.93%), and 62.23% (95% CI: 52.93–71.10%) among those whose sexual orientation contained men. HPV vaccine acceptance rates differed significantly between the two populations (p = 0.01). The population with a medical background (46.23%, 95% CI: 40.28–52.24%) was more willing to be vaccinated. In comparison to the employed population (66.93%, 95% CI: 48.79–82.81%) and the unemployed (68.44%, 95% CI: 52.82–82.23%), vaccination acceptance rates were lower among students (47.35%, 95% CI: 37.00–57.81%) (p = 0.04). The most significant barriers to vaccination were perceived low risk of infection for themselves (45.91%, 95% CI: 31.73–60.43%), followed by vaccine cost (43.46%, 95% CI: 31.20–56.13%). Moreover, the recommendations from medical professionals (60.90%, 95%CI: 44.23–76.37%) and sexual partners (60.09%, 95%CI: 27.11–88.67%) were significant factors in promoting vaccination. Overall, acceptance of the HPV vaccine among general men was at a lower level, despite being slightly higher among men with a same-sex orientation. Popularizing knowledge about diseases and vaccines, encouraging medical professionals to recommend vaccines to men, or reducing the cost of vaccines may promote HPV vaccination.

Following the rollout of a booster campaign to promote immunity against COVID-19 in China, this study aimed to assess booster hesitancy among adults who were fully vaccinated with primary doses across Zhejiang Province. Firstly, the modified 5C scale developed by a German research team was assessed for reliability and validity via a pre-survey in Zhejiang Province. Then, a 30-item questionnaire was established to conduct online and offline surveys during 10 November to 15 December 2021. Demographic characteristics and information on previous vaccination experience, vaccine type of primary doses, attitudes towards booster doses and awareness of SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected. Chi-square tests, pairwise comparison and multivariate logistic regression were performed in data analysis. In total, 4039 valid questionnaires were analyzed, with booster hesitancy of 14.81%. Dissatisfaction with previous vaccination experience of primary doses (ORs = 1.771~8.025), less confidence in COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 3.511, 95%CI: 2.874~4.310), younger age compared to the elderly aged 51–60 years old (2.382, 1.274~4.545), lower education level (ORs = 1.707~2.100), weaker awareness of social responsibility of prevention and control of COVID-19 (1.587, 1.353~1.859), inconvenience of booster vaccination (1.539, 1.302~1.821), complacency regarding vaccine efficacy as well as self-health status (1.224, 1.056~1.415) and excessive trade-offs before vaccination (1.184, 1.005~1.398) were positively associated with booster hesitancy. Therefore, intelligent means should be strengthened to optimize vaccination services. More influential experts and other significant figures should be supported to promote timely evidence-based information via various media platforms to reduce public hesitancy and increase booster uptake.

In order to control the spread of rubella and reduce the risk for congenital rubella syndrome, an additional rubella vaccination program was set up for all secondary school students since 2008 in Zhejiang, China. We conducted a descriptive analysis of rubella incidence among different age groups from 2005 to 2015 and a serosurvey of female subjects aged 15–39 years to understand the possible effects of this immunization program. The average annual rubella incidence rate had decreased from 15.86 per 100,000 population (2005–2007) to 0.75 per 100,000 population (2013–2015) in Zhejiang. The decrease in the rate of rubella incidence in girls aged 15–19 years was more accelerated (from 138.30 to 0.34 per 100,000) than in the total population during 2008–2015 (from 32.20 to 0.46 per 100,000). Of 1225 female subjects in the serosurvey, 256 (20.9%) were not immune to rubella. The proportion of subjects immune to rubella was significantly different among different age groups (Wald χ2 = 22.19, p = 0.000), and subjects aged 15–19 years old had the highest immunity (88.0%). Rubella antibody levels were significantly lower in women aged 25–30 years with 26.7% of them not immune, followed by the group aged 20–24 years (25.0%) and 30–35 years (24.5%). Rubella vaccine included in the Expanded Program on Immunization together with vaccination activities for secondary school students can help in rubella control, particularly in targeted age groups in the program. Seroprevalence of antibodies to the rubella virus amongst the female population within childbearing age in Zhejiang, China, is still too low to provide immunity. In addition to vaccination programs in the secondary schools, rubella vaccination should also be encouraged in women of childbearing age, which can be done effectively combined with pre-marital examination in China.

In China, children aged <8 months, who were expected to be protected by maternal antibodies before receiving the first dose of measles vaccine, were the age group with the greatest risk of infection in recent years. In this study, we evaluated whether infants yet to be age-eligible for measles vaccine had a sufficient seropositive level of maternal measles antibodies in 2009 and 2013. Blood samples were collected from infants aged <8 months through population-based serological surveys conducted in Zhejiang, China. Serum levels of immunoglobulin G measles antibodies were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In 2013, the mean geometric mean titres (GMTs) of infants aged 4 to 8 months were below the seropositivity threshold (<200 mIU/mL), decreasing from 118.6 mIU/mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 83.0, 169.3 mIU/mL) at 4 months to 28.6 mIU/mL (95% CI 15.6, 52.3 mIU/mL) at 7 months. Antibody levels were significantly lower in 2013 than in 2009 starting from 5 months of age. In conclusion, infants aged 4 to 8 months are susceptible to measles due to low levels of maternal measles antibodies. It is thus suggested to provide infants with a supplementary dose on top of the routine schedule, and/or launch catch-up vaccination campaigns among young women.

Background: Measles and rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases targeted for elimination in most World Health Organization regions, and China is considered to have momentum towards measles elimination. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the population immunity levels against measles and rubella in Zhejiang Province in China in order to provide valuable insights for informing future public health measures and contributing to the ongoing global campaign against these diseases. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted in 2022. A total of 2740 blood samples were collected from healthy individuals spanning the age range of 0–59 years, representing diverse demographic strata across 11 prefectures in Zhejiang Province in China. The sera were tested for measles and rubella IgG antibodies to determine positivity rates and geometric mean concentrations (GMCs). Results: The overall positivity rate for the measles IgG antibody was 85.3%, with a GMC of 588.30 mIU/mL. The positivity rate for the rubella IgG antibody was 70.9%, and the GMC was 35.30 IU/mL. Measles IgG antibody positivity rates across the 0–11 months, 12–23 months, 24–35 months, 3–5 years, 6–9 years, 10–14 years, 15–19 years, 20–29 years, and 30–59 years age groups were 63.1%, 92.5%, 97.0%, 94.0%, 85.8%, 77.3%, 86.9%, 84.9%, and 88.7%, respectively (trend χ² = 118.34, p < 0.001). Correspondingly, rubella antibody positivity rates for these same age brackets were 55.9%, 87.9%, 94.7%, 88.2%, 69.9%, 54.2%, 72.6%, 67.5%, and 74.3% (trend χ² = 199.18, p < 0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses consistently demonstrated that age, immunization history, and differing economic levels were significant factors contributing to variations in antibody levels. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of measles and rubella was lower than that required for herd immunity. Periodic vaccination campaigns should be launched to increase immunity.