Abstract
Objective: The implementation of the HPV vaccine in Japan has been met with both
support and opposition. This study aims to clarify how the HPV vaccine is perceived on
the social media platform YouTube. Methods: In Study 1, the content of YouTube videos
from 2011 to 2021 was reviewed and categorized into three groups: supportive, opposing,
and neutral. The number of videos in each category was then compared. In Study 2,
comments on YouTube videos from 2013, 2015, and 2023 were analyzed using text mining
techniques. Results: In Study 1, opposing content was more prevalent from 2011 to 2017.
However, from 2018 to 2021, supportive content became more dominant, reversing the
trend (χ2 = 50.23, p < .001). In Study 2, many negative comments in 2015 referred to
concerns such as "life-changing" or "future being taken away." By 2023, comments
reflected the influence of government campaigns, with phrases such as "available for
free." Discussion: Media campaigns highlighting health damages caused by adverse
vaccine reactions and government policies promoting proactive vaccine
recommendations, including free vaccinations, had a significant impact on the content
and comments of YouTube videos.
https://ror.org/025p4jf48 
