Low HPV Vaccination Coverage Among U.S. Male Adolescents

As of 2011, the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for male adolescents in the U.S. So, how many are actually receiving it?

To answer this question, investigators analyzed data on 9554 male adolescents aged 13 to 17 years collected from a 2013 national random-digit-dial household telephone survey. A parent or guardian completed the household telephone interview and was asked for consent to contact their child's provider for immunization records. The majority of adolescents were non-Hispanic white (54%), were living above 133% of the federal poverty level (66%), and had one physician contact in the last year (82%). Results were as follows:

• The rate of HPV vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose was 35% and was higher among non-Hispan…