Background:
Rapid digital proliferation has reshaped public health communication in Nigeria, creating a new digital determinant of health. In the Niger Delta, where institutional trust is historically fragile, the infodemic, a surge of unverified health information poses a distinct threat to HPV vaccine introduction. While traditional literature focuses on cost and access, the specific impact of algorithm driven social media consumption on the decision making of "digital native" adolescents remains under-researched. Understanding this mechanism is critical for modernizing immunization strategies in high trust deficit regions.

Objectives:
This study assessed the prevalence of HPV vaccine hesitancy among digitally active young women in the Niger Delta and correlated the frequency of social media usage with vaccine acceptance rates. The research specifically sought to isolate the dominant digital misinformation narratives driving refusal to inform the design of counter messaging campaigns.

Methods:
A cross sectional web based survey was disseminated using snowball sampling via youth centric networks (WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok) across the Niger Delta region. The study recruited 524 female respondents aged 16 to 25. The survey instrument utilized a validated eHealth Literacy Scale alongside questions on vaccine intent, source credibility, and exposure to specific anti-vaccine tropes. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to establish associations between media diet and hesitancy.

Results:
Analysis revealed a strong inverse correlation between high intensity social media use and vaccine acceptance. Despite 82.4% of respondents demonstrating awareness of the HPV vaccine, only 23.1% expressed willingness to receive it. Participants who relied on social media as their primary information source were 3.5 times more likely to express hesitancy compared to those relying on clinical sources. The most pervasive narrative identified was the infertility and population control myth, cited by 41% of hesitant respondents as the primary reason for refusal.

Conclusions/Implications:
The “Infodemic" operates as a critical, independent barrier to health equity in the Niger Delta. Traditional offline sensitization is insufficient for a demographic that consumes health information primarily online. We recommend a Digital First vaccination strategy that leverages local micro influencers to dismantle specific rumors, implements algorithmic monitoring for early threat detection, and integrates eHealth literacy training to help adolescents distinguish scientific fact from viral sensation.