Newswise — Deerfield, IL — In light of today’s report of the National Immunization Survey results, which underscores a relative stagnation in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) encourages increased efforts by clinicians to advocate for targeted vaccination of 11- and 12-year-old male and female patients, while recommending catch-up vaccination for all patients 13-26 years who have not yet received the vaccine.
The report issued by the National Immunization Survey shows reasonable gains in immunization rates among teens for tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine. However, rates of HPV vaccination have not shown similar increases: less than 49% of all teen girls have begun the HPV vaccination schedule, while only 32% received all three recommended doses. Of great concern given the relatively higher rates of cervical cancer in minority and low-income women is that the results also reveal racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in HPV vaccine completion rates, despite the fact that the Vaccines for Children Program provides free vaccines for low-income teens.
“The HPV vaccine is most effective if the entire series has been given before exposure to the HPV virus. That is why SAHM has advocated for providers to recommend and administer the vaccine to their 11- and 12-year-old patients,” notes Dr. Amy Middleman, SAHM’s liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Of course, we continue to recommend vaccination for all previously unvaccinated patients, both male and female, aged 13 to 26.”
Providers and public health authorities face a variety of challenges in vaccinating adolescents. SAHM recommends the following steps to help them overcome these barriers:
1. Vaccinate adolescents at every opportunity possible, regardless of the reason for a medical visit; 2. Make vaccinations a priority during comprehensive health visits, including sports physicals; 3. Employ standing orders that instruct office staff to vaccinate adolescents when indicated, even if a provider forgets; 4. Utilize a vaccine reminder and recall system to get patients to return for additional vaccines when they need them; 5. Lobby for and develop centralized statewide vaccine registries where all adolescents can have their vaccine status documented; 6. Support the use of school-located programs and other alternative sites to provide immunization services for those with less access to comprehensive services, and 7. Educate patients and parents with evidence-based resources at every opportunity about the benefits of vaccines. SAHM urges patients and parents to share concerns with their providers about vaccines including the efficacy and safety of this most important primary prevention tool.
HPV vaccination has been recommended since 2006 and, since that time, no serious safety concerns have been noted after millions of delivered doses. SAHM encourages providers to strongly recommend this vaccine to their 11- to 26-year-old patients and their parents; these kinds of recommendations have been shown to be a powerful motivator for parents to immunize their children. Vaccine administration is ideal at the 11-12 year visit, well before most adolescents have engaged in sexual contact or experimentation that puts them at risk for acquiring HPV infection.
“The bottom line is that the HPV vaccine prevents cancer – why would anyone not want to provide this protection to his or her child?” concluded Dr. Middleman.
To obtain more information or to speak to an expert, contact Kasia Chalko at SAHM headquarters.
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The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine is a multi-disciplinary organization of health professionals who are committed to advancing the health and well-being of adolescents. Through education, research, clinical services and advocacy activities, members of SAHM strive to enhance public and professional awareness of adolescent health issues among families, educators, policy makers, youth-serving organizations, students who are considering a health career, as well as other health professionals. Learn more at www.adolescenthealth.org.
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