HPV Vaccination Rates Remain Low in U.S. Preteens

Cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) are all prevented by HPV vaccination prior to infection. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine HPV vaccination at ages 9 to 12 years for both boys and girls. Despite this, vaccine administration in the U.S. lags that in other countries by significant margins.

Researchers analyzed a dataset from 2008 through 2018 for HPV vaccine series initiation and completion within ages 9 to 12 years (beginning in 2010, both boys and girls were included in the vaccination recommendation). Initiation of HPV vaccination rose from 17% (2008) to 63% (2018); however, completion rates increased less markedly (from 14% [2011] to 33% [2018]). Among Hispanic populations in 2018, the completion rate was 41…