HPV Vaccine Rates Drop Among Teens Since 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children aged 11 to 12 receive two doses of the HPV vaccine, with the option to start as early as age 9. For those aged 15 to 26 who have not been vaccinated, three doses are typically required. A recent survey examined vaccination trends based on birth year and eligibility for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides vaccines to children from low-income families. The survey revealed a concerning decline in HPV vaccination rates among adolescents born in 2010, who turned 13 in 2023, compared to those born in 2007. Specifically, only 42.7% of VFC-eligible teens born in 2010 were up to date with their vaccinations by age 13, a drop from 53% among their 2007 counterparts. Overall, while 76.8% of teens aged 13 to 17 received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine in 2023, the percentage of those fully up to date fell to 61.4%, down from 64.6% in 2022. HPV is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, affecting approximately 13 million Americans annually. The CDC notes that nearly everyone will contract HPV at some point, with about 10% of infections leading to cancers such as cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Vaccination can prevent over 90% of HPV-related cancers when administered at the recommended ages, emphasizing the need for healthcare providers to ensure adolescents are up to date with their vaccinations.