Effect of Initiating HPV Vaccination Before Age 11 on HPV Vaccination Completion

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, launched in 2006, has proven effective at reducing HPV infection rates and preventing HPV-associated cancers. However, less than 60% of adolescents have completed the recommended vaccine series, and the rate is even lower among Hispanic children and adolescents. This study explores the age of initiation within our comprehensive vaccination program in West Texas, Tiempo de Vacunarte.

This study is a retrospective analysis of HPV vaccine completion among individuals 9 to 17 years old from Tiempo de Vacunarte between June 2015 and February 2018. The program was open to individuals 9 to 26 years old who had at least one prior dose of the HPV vaccine, were uninsured or underinsured, and had a Texas address. The primary outcome was completion of the HPV vaccine series.

A total of 2,380 individuals were enrolled, and this study analyzed a subset of 613 children aged 9 to 17 years; 59.8% completed the vaccine series. Most were female (53.8%) and had parents born in Mexico (75.2%). Children 11 to 14 years old were likelier to complete the vaccine series than other age groups (OR: 2.802, P = .006). Children with parents with higher education and less time residing in the US were likelier to complete the series.

Our study supports advocating for initiating the HPV vaccine at a younger age and completing the series by 14 years old. Multi-component and culturally tailored programs are an effective means to increasing HPV vaccine uptake and decreasing the burden of HPV-associated cancers.