Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine: Primary Care Physicians' Practices

Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination has increased, but coverage rates have been slow to match those for other adolescent vaccines (NEJM JW Pediatrics Adolesc Med Oct 2019 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019; 68:718). In 2018, researchers surveyed more than 500 U.S. pediatricians and family physicians (FPs) about HPV vaccine administration, communication practices, knowledge, and attitudes. Results include the following:

• More physicians strongly recommended HPV vaccine for 11- to 12-year-old girls in 2018 than 5 years earlier (pediatricians, 85% vs. 60%; FPs, 72% vs. 59%).

• Recommendation for vaccination of adolescents >13 years of age was consistently stronger than for younger patients (11–12 years).

• Pediatricians recommended HPV vaccine at …