Human papillomavirus vaccine initiation, coverage, and completion rates among U.S. active component service members,...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been available and licensed for use in the U.S. among women since 2006 and among men since 2010. Currently, HPV is not a mandatory vaccine for U.S. military service; however, it is encouraged and offered to service members. Between 2007 and 2017, a total of 111,546 (26.6%) eligible active component service women aged 17-26 years and 121,657 (5.8%) men initiated the HPV vaccine. Of those service members who initiated vaccination and remained in service for at least 6 months, less than half of women (46.6%) and only slightly more than one-third of men (35.1%) completed three doses. Initiation and completion rates also varied by service branch, with service members in the Air Force generally having higher initiation and completion rates. The median times between the first and second doses and between the first and third doses were 3.8 months and 10.8 months, respectively. The median time in service at initiation dose was 1.1 years. Continued development and implementation of interventions to enhance HPV vaccination initiation among military service members are warranted.