Few HPV Vaccine Recipients Receive All 3 Doses

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine follow-through rates are low and have declined over time among patients who initiate the 3-dose vaccine series, according to new research.

This finding emerged from a study of 1,332,217 privately insured US individuals aged 9 to 26 years who initiated the bivalent or quadrivalent HPV vaccine series between 2006 and 2014, with available follow-up data through 2015.
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The primary outcome of the study was receipt of the third vaccine dose within 12 months of the first, compared by initiation year. Variables including age, region, insurance plan type, provider type, and seasonal influenza vaccination were taken into account.

Results of the study demonstrated that timely HPV vaccine follow-through decreased over time in men (36% in 2011 to 33% in 2014) and especially in women (67% in 2006 to 38% in 2014).

Similar patterns were observed even after controlling for patient and provider characteristics or using alternative definitions of follow-through.

Receipt of flu vaccine in the prior year and receipt of first HPV vaccine dose from an obstetrician/gynecologist were identified as positive predictors of timely follow-through.

“Although HPV vaccination is improving over time, only 45% of females and 35% of males in our study completed the HPV series within 1 year of initiation,” the researchers wrote.

“Programs seeking to improve vaccination should emphasize the importance of timely follow-through and should target the full range of providers who deliver HPV vaccines,” they added.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Spencer JC, Brewer NT, Trogdon JG, Wheeler SB, Dusetzina SB. Predictors of human papillomavirus vaccine follow-through among privately insured US patients [Published online May 17, 2018]. Am J Public Health. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304408