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The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that adolescents receive routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination between ages 9 and 12 to prevent cervical cancer; however, vaccination frequently occurs later, often after first sexual activity. A national health interview database that includes vaginal HPV testing data was used to assess the prevalence of high-risk HPV subtypes (16/18) in 4727 women (mean age, 18). By the time of this assessment, all participants already had been eligible for HPV vaccination — either routinely at ages 9 to 12 or on a “catch-up” basis, at ages 13 to 26.
Only 56% of women were ever vaccinated, and only 21% of those were vaccinated by age 12. Among vaccinated women, 59% were vaccinated be…