Human papillomavirus vaccination coverage using two-dose or three-dose schedule criteria

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunization Practices
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) revised human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination guidelines in October 2016.
• The updated recommendation introduced a 2-dose schedule for adolescents starting the HPV vaccine series before age 15.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the updated 2-dose HPV vaccination schedule on vaccination coverage.
• To establish baseline HPV vaccination coverage rates according to the revised ACIP recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of de-identified records for over 4 million individuals aged 9-17 years.
• Data extracted from six Immunization Information Systems Sentinel Sites between January 1, 2014, and September 30, 2016.
• Reclassification of HPV vaccination coverage based on both 2-dose and 3-dose schedules.

Main Results:

• Including the 2-dose schedule increased up-to-date HPV vaccination coverage by 4.5-8.5 percentage points across age groups (11-12, 13-14, and 15-17 years).
• The discrepancy between 3-dose and 2- or 3-dose coverage was most pronounced in late 2016.
• These findings provide crucial baseline data for the current HPV vaccination recommendations.

Conclusions:

• The updated 2-dose HPV vaccination schedule has demonstrably improved vaccination uptake in U.S. adolescents.
• Monitoring HPV vaccination coverage using current guidelines is essential for public health surveillance.
• The revised recommendations offer a more flexible approach to achieving adequate protection against HPV.