US HPV vaccine uptake low compared to other adolescent immunizations

While human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination rates have risen substantially, just 29% of adolescents received a first dose of the vaccine by their 13th birthday, according to a new seven-year study of medical claims by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) Health of America Report.

First-dose HPV vaccination rates grew 55% among Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) commercially insured adolescent members from 2010 through 2016. Despite the growth, HPV vaccination lags behind meningococcal and Tdap vaccines, which have rates of 72% and 82%, respectively.

The study also finds that: