CDC released results from the 2018 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which provides the latest estimates of vaccination rates among adolescents in the United States.

The key findings from the report include:

• HPV vaccination rates increased slightly, but there was no increase in rates among girls, highlighting the need for continued efforts to ensure all boys and girls are vaccinated on time.
• Vaccination rates are lower in rural areas, and differ by insurance status.
• This report reinforces the important role that healthcare professionals can play in increasing vaccination rates and addressing disparities.

CDC is emphasizing the following calls to action:

• Public health programs should work with doctors and their practices to develop better tools to meet the needs of parents to encourage vaccine acceptance.
• Healthcare Professionals should make an effective recommendation for all 11-12 year old patients. Understand that parents may have concerns about vaccination and be prepared to address parents’ questions about the HPV vaccine.
• Parents should ask their child’s doctor about the HPV vaccine when they are 11 or 12 years old.
• Immunization Programs and Partners
  • Share resources with healthcare professionals to support them in making effective vaccine recommendations and addressing parents’ questions.
  • Partner with organizations focused on rural health to disseminate resources to healthcare professionals in rural areas.
  • Remind parents about the vaccines that are recommended for their child before the start of the school year.

This week’s MMWR also included a report on the latest estimates of HPV cancers in the United States, which found that HPV vaccination could prevent 92% of cancers estimated to be caused by HPV.

To support healthcare professionals in making effective recommendations, addressing parents’ questions and concerns, and reinforce the message that HPV vaccination is cancer prevention, CDC has developed a number of educational resources, which can be found here. Below are a few specific resources for outreach efforts to healthcare professionals and parents.

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

• #HowIRecommend website
• Talking to Parents about the HPV Vaccine webpage and handout
• Continuing Education Courses

Resources for Parents

• Can I Ask You A Question? Video Series
• Interactive Vaccine Guide
• Mobile-friendly Vaccines Website for Parents

For updated recommendations on HPV vaccination of adults visit: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6832a3.htm. CDC has updated its web content to reflect the latest recommendations among adults, including developing a new HPV Vaccine Schedules and Dosing page for healthcare professionals to outline HPV vaccine recommendations and guidance for how to talk with parents and patients about vaccine recommendations.