HPV vaccination rates among teens made a small improvement in 2019 but still lag behind most other vaccines.
About 54.2% of teens were fully vaccinated against HPV last year, compared to 51.1% in 2018, according to a new analysis of 2019 National Immunization Survey – Teen data published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Roughly 56.8% of girls were up to date on HPV vaccination, up from 53.7% in 2018. Boys’ rates also improved from 48.7% to 51.8%. Teen coverage with at least one dose was 71.5%, up from 68.1%.
The AAP recommends starting the HPV vaccine series between 9-12 years. The vaccine protects against several types of cancer.
The 2019 coverage rates for other vaccines were:
- 91.9% for at least two doses of measles, mumps and rubella,
- 91.6% for at least three doses of hepatitis B,
- 90.6% for at least two doses of varicella among those with no history of the disease,
- 90.2% for at least one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis,
- 88.9% for at least one dose of meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY),
- 77.1% for at least two doses of hepatitis A,
- 53.7% for at least two doses of MenACWY and
- 21.8% for meningococcal B, which is given based on individual decisions between families and clinicians.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found vaccines ordered through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program decreased after COVID-19 was declared a national emergency in March. CDC authors of the new study encouraged clinicians to take action to keep from losing the improvements made in 2019.
They suggested contacting teens who are due for vaccines, taking steps to conduct safe visits during the pandemic and educating families who may be eligible for free vaccines through the VFC program.
“Ensuring that routine immunization services for adolescents are maintained or reinitiated is essential to continuing progress in protecting persons and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks,” they wrote.
