• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2018

In order to prevent cervical cancer, free vaccination against cervical cancer(HPV vaccine) for 12-year-old girls has been ongoing since June 2016. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the media reported the risk information of HPV vaccine side effects and to suggest implications for government's risk communication and policy PR. The time frame was divided into two stages, stage 1(policy formation stage, 6 months before the start of free HPV vaccination) and stage 2(policy execution stage, 6 months after the free HPV vaccination was implemented). A total of 314 news articles on HPV vaccine safety and HPV Vaccine side effects were analyzed by content analysis and network analysis. The number of articles increased at stage 2 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the safety of HPV vaccine and encouraged the inoculation while highlighting the effectiveness of the vaccine. Regarding HPV vaccine side effects, cases against vaccination in Japan were mainly reported at stage 1, whereas cases of HPV vaccine side effects from other countries such as Europe and USA were frequently reported at stage 2. In order to increase vaccination rate of HPV vaccine, it is time to take a strategic approach to prevent vague fear or anxiety about the vaccine.