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Vaccination rates for U.S. adolescents have improved but still lag behind rates for children. Using data from the 2007 HealthStyles and YouthStyles consumer mail surveys, investigators analyzed the knowledge and attitudes of 1087 adolescents (age range, 11–18 years) and 1208 parents regarding three vaccines for teenagers: human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Tdap (for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), and MenACWY (meningococcal conjugate vaccine). Survey responses were weighted to represent the demographic makeup of the general U.S. population.
The table lists the percentages of parents and adolescents who said that they were aware of the various recommendations.
One third of parents and 43% of adolescents strongly agreed or agreed with the statement “I have concerns about the safety of recommended adolescent vaccines.” However, 84% of parents and 91% of adolescents agreed that getting vaccinated is one way to protect their own or their child's health. Furthermore, 84% of adolescents strongly agreed or agreed that they would get a vaccine if recommended by their healthcare provider.
Kennedy A et al. Limited awareness of vaccines recommended for adolescents and other results from two national consumer health surveys in the United States. J Adolesc Health 2012 Feb; 50:198.
Comment
Clearly, we can do better in getting the word out about adolescent vaccines. Given that 84% of teenagers said that they would get vaccinated if a healthcare provider advised it, making educational materials available and giving clear recommendations could boost vaccination rates.