CDC: Adolescent HPV vaccinations lag behind meningococcal, Tdap

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released a new report examining vaccination trends among adolescents aged 13-17 years in 2015 and found that, despite rising numbers of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal conjugate vaccinations (MenACWY), the number of HPV vaccines — particularly among adolescent boys — is lagging. 

 

“Since 2007, among females, HPV vaccination coverage has lagged behind Tdap and MenACWY coverage, with gaps of 28 and 17 percentage points, respectively, in 2014. HPV vaccination coverage among males has increased annually since 2011, but remains lower than coverage among females,” the report says. 

 

In 2015, among males coverage with one or more HPV vaccine doses was 49.8% and 28.1% had three or more doses. Among females, 62.8% had one or more doses and 41.9% had three or more doses. 

 

“[These findings] suggests that HPV vaccine is not being routinely administered at visits when other recommended vaccines are given, and demonstrates ongoing missed opportunities for the prevention of HPV-associated outcomes, including cancers,” the report says. “Routine age-appropriate administration of all recommended vaccines to adolescents aged 11–12 years, and strong, consistent recommendations by clinicians are important to maintaining high vaccination coverage for Tdap and MenACWY vaccines and improving HPV vaccination coverage."