Trends in HPV vaccine initiation among adolescent females in North Carolina, 2008-2010, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev21(11):1913-22

Background: To better target future immunization efforts, we assessed trends and disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation among female adolescents in North Carolina over 3 years.

Methods: We analyzed data from a stratified random sample of 1,427 parents who, between 2008 and 2010, completed two linked telephone surveys: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program surveys. Weighted analyses examined HPV vaccine initiation for girls ages 11 to 17 years.

Results: HPV vaccine initiation increased modestly over time (2008, 34%; 2009, 41%; 2010, 44%). This upward trend was present within 11 subpopulations of girls, including those who lived in rural areas, were of minority (non-black/non-white) race, or had not recently received a preventive check-up. Looking at differences between groups, HPV vaccine initiation was less common among girls who attended private versus public school, were younger, or lacked a recent check-up. However, the latter difference narrowed over time. The low level of initiation among girls without recent check-ups increased substantially (from 11% to 41%), whereas initiation among girls with recent visits improved little (from 39% to 44%, P(interaction) = 0.007).

Conclusions: Although HPV vaccine initiation improved among several groups typically at higher risk for cervical cancer, the lack of progress among girls with recent check-ups suggests that missed opportunities for administration have hampered broader improvements.

Impact: Achieving widespread coverage of HPV vaccine will require redoubled efforts to vaccinate adolescents during routine care.