HPV Infection in Young U.S. Women: Initial Impact of Vaccination

In countries where human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage is high, prevalence of genital warts and cervical dysplasia among young women has plummeted (e.g., NEJM JW Womens Health May 16 2013). However, the population-wide impact in the U.S. (where only about one third of adolescent girls have received the 3-dose vaccine) has not been evaluated. CDC investigators compared HPV prevalence in young women (age range, 14–19) during two periods (2003–2006 and 2007–2010) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The vaccine was first recommended for universal use in adolescent girls in late 2006.

Prevalence of infection with the HPV types included in the vaccine (types 16, 18, 6, and 11) fell significantly, from 11.5% to 5.1%. No…