2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON VACCINOLOGY RESEARCH: POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND VACCINE HESITANCY Development and Evaluation of an Educational Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Comic Book for College Students in Northeast Ohio: An Application of the Integrative Behavior Model O. Aguolu1, L. Phillips2, T. Smith2, V. Cheruvu2 1Yale University, New Haven, CT; 2Kent State University, Kent, OH Learning Objective Develop an educational HPV vaccine comic book for target populations with average to low coverage rates to improve knowledge and beliefs regarding intention to complete HPV vaccination and reduce the rates of HPV‐associated diseases and cancer Abstract Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause several types of cancers and genital warts in both males and females. In the US, young adults, especially college students, are mostly affected. Scientific evidence shows that HPV vaccine is safe and effective; however, its coverage remains lower than other vaccines for young adults. This implies missed vaccination opportunities. There is a need to improve HPV vaccination promotion strategies in this population. Comic books are potentially effective for health education of diverse groups, because they are easily accessible, low‐cost, engaging and unobtrusive. They may help to improve knowledge and beliefs regarding HPV vaccination, increase its acceptance and uptake, as well as decrease HPV‐related diseases. This is a mixed methods study. In 2017, we recruited a diverse population of 18 to 26‐year‐old male and female students from a college in northeast Ohio. Using qualitative methods, we identified the salient beliefs regarding HPV vaccination completion within one year. We conducted multiple linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation to examine predictors of intention to complete HPV vaccination within one year among unvaccinated participants using constructs form the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM). We developed an educational HPV/HPV vaccine comic book informed by evidence from target population‐based studies on HPV vaccination, reputable health literacy tools, pilot testing, and the IBM. We hypothesized that this intervention would improve college students’ HPV vaccine knowledge, beliefs, attitude, perceived norm, personal agency, and intention to complete HPV vaccination within 1 year. Using a quasi‐experimental pre‐posttest survey design, we evaluated the effect of the intervention on the participants' HPV vaccine knowledge, beliefs, attitude, perceived norm, personal agency, and intention to complete HPV vaccination within 1 year. Most of the participants [n=304, males (28%), females (72%)] who completed the pre‐posttest surveys reported that the comic book is acceptable, easy to read, understandable, relevant, and has high quality information and graphics. Only 29% reported they completed the recommended three doses of HPV vaccine. Multiple linear regression analysis (n=157) showed age (b=‐0.11*); race (b=0.81*); instrumental attitudes (b=0.43*); injunctive norms (b=0.20*); and descriptive norms (b=0.55**) were significant predictors of intention to complete HPV vaccination within 12 months [R2=0.47, F(8)=16.12, p<0.0001] among unvaccinated study participants. Overall, the intervention proved to be effective in creating positive changes. Mean HPV/HPV vaccine knowledge score increased from 50%–90%, McNemar’s test showed statistically significant higher levels of understanding in all the knowledge questions. Paired t‐test analyses showed increases in mean score for HPV knowledge: 7.15**, CI=6.60‐7.69; dimensions of Attitudes (instrumental: 0.81**, SD=1.13; experiential: 0.57**, SD=1.21); Perceived norms (injunctive: 0.48**, SD=1.00; descriptive: 0.12*, SD=0.66); and Personal agency (autonomy: 0.48**, SD=1.26; capacity: 0.60**, SD=1.42) as well as Intention to complete HPV vaccination within 12 months: 1.51, CI=1.28‐1.72 among unvaccinated participants. Significant positive changes were also noted in targeted beliefs [*=p<0.05, ** =p<0.0001]. www.nfid.org/acvr 2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON VACCINOLOGY RESEARCH: POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS Findings will aid researchers to develop effective interventions for increasing HPV vaccine coverage. Further research will explore use of comic books to increase vaccine uptake for populations of various ages in primary and secondary schools as well as in clinics. References 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human papillomavirus (HPV) statistics. www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stats.htm. Assessed December 1, 2017. Updated 2017. 2. Dunne EF, Markowitz LE, Saraiya M, et al. CDC grand rounds: Reducing the burden of HPV‐associated cancer and disease. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(4):69‐72. doi: mm6304a1 [pii]. 3. National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis or laryngeal papillomatosis. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/recurrent‐respiratory‐papillomatosis. Assessed December 1, 2017. Updated 2017. 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV infection ‐ fact sheet. www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact‐ hpv.htm. Assessed December 1, 2017. Updated 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV‐ associated cancer statistics. www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/index.htm. Assessed December 1, 2017. Updated 2017. 5. Lee SM, Park JS, Norwitz ER, et al. Risk of vertical transmission of human papillomavirus throughout pregnancy: A prospective study. PloS One. 2013;8(6):e66368. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066368. 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human papillomavirus. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine‐Preventable Diseases. 13th ed. Washington, D.C.: Public Health Foundation; 2016:175‐186. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/hpv.pdf. 7. Ohio Department of Health. Cancers associated with human papillomavirus in Ohio. odh.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/144d0ea7‐69db‐49e9‐ac15‐ f94a6fc2efd8/HPVProfile0812_Oct2015.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z1 8_M1HGGIK0N0JO00QO9DDDDM3000‐144d0ea7‐69db‐49e9‐ac15‐f94a6fc2efd8‐mqxDo5S. Assessed December 1, 2017. Updated 2017. 8. Chesson HW, Blandford JM, Gift TL, Tao G, Irwin KL. The estimated direct medical cost of sexually transmitted diseases among American youth. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2004;36(1):11‐19. 9. Meites E, Kempe A, Markowitz LE. Use of a 2‐dose schedule for human papillomavirus vaccination ‐ updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(49):1405‐1408. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6549a5 [doi]. www.nfid.org/acvr 2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON VACCINOLOGY RESEARCH: POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS Increasing Vaccine Compliance Among College Freshmen K. Stevenson, R. Beckstrand, L. Eden, K. Luthy, J. Macintosh, G. Ray Brigham Young University, Provo, UT Learning Objectives . Identify vaccine knowledge deficits among incoming college freshmen and increase awareness of vaccine‐ preventable diseases on college campuses . Determine the influence of an educational module on the perceptions and behaviors of incoming freshman regarding vaccinations Abstract College students living in close quarters have a heightened risk for contracting meningococcal meningitis and other communicable diseases such as influenza and pertussis. [1 ] Currently, Brigham Young University (BYU), a private university in Utah, does not have vaccine requirements for students. [2] In July 2018, the State Board of Regents (SBOR) in Utah updated a policy regarding vaccine education of college age students. [3] In this revised policy, the SBOR clarifies that all students living on campus should receive education about vaccines. Colleges and universities across Utah are now in need of effective strategies to comply with this new policy. To implement this policy, the BYU research team aims to determine current vaccine perceptions and behaviors among BYU freshmen, educate incoming freshmen on preventing communicable diseases, and measure the effectiveness of module. It is hypothesized that this educational intervention will decrease campus vaccine hesitancy. An online educational module on vaccinations and disease prevention on college campuses was created in collaboration with public health experts, including the Utah County Immunization Coalition (UCIC), the Utah Scientific Advisory Committee (USAC), and the Greater Salt Lake Immunization Coalition (GSLIC). This interprofessional collaboration is vital for successful implementation of community health improvement projects. An email was sent to all incoming BYU freshman notifying them of the opportunity to participate in the study. Participants completed a demographic survey and pre‐questionnaire prior to completing the vaccine education module. Upon completion of the module, participants completed a post‐module questionnaire in order to evaluate any change in opinions regarding immunizations. They were also asked to list new information learned during the module and any vaccine or communicable disease‐related questions. Data was entered into SPSS and reviewed by two researchers for accuracy. The data was then analyzed using a dependent t test. The percentage of students (N=177) who selected a 10 out of 10 likelihood to be up to date on their own vaccinations increased by 9.6% (p<.0001) after the educational module. There was also a 14.7% (p<.0001) increase in participants expecting other BYU students to be up to date on immunizations. Additionally the survey measured the students’ likelihood to