Coverage increases for three recommended vaccines, could be improved: study

Elk Grove Village, IL – Adolescent coverage for three recommended vaccines significantly increased between 2006 and 2009, but coverage amounts remain below target levels, according to a new study (.pdf file).

Researchers analyzed data from the 2006-2009 National Immunization Survey – Teen and found:

• Meningitis immunizations increased to 54 percent from 12 percent.
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (TdaP) immunizations increased to 56 percent from 11 percent.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization among female adolescents increased to 44 percent from 25 percent.
• Coverage for vaccinations that included all three recommended doses increased to 27 percent from 18 percent.

However, researchers determined that vaccination coverage could have been more than 80 percent for Td/TdaP and meningitis, and as high as 74% for the first dose of HPV, if providers had administered all recommended vaccines during the same vaccination visit.

Researchers recommended implementing strategies to increase parental knowledge about adolescent vaccines and improving provider recommendations and administration of all vaccines during the same visit.

The study was published in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics.