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Less than 15% of adolescent boys complete HPV vaccination

In 2013, approximately two-thirds of boys aged 13 to 17 years had not received the HPV vaccination, according to recently published data in Pediatrics.   

Boys are often unvaccinated due to lack of physician recommendation or lack of explanation regarding the vaccination benefits, according to the researchers.

“Providers have this perceptions the HPV vaccine is different than other vaccines. They think parents are more concerned about it, and they’re worried parents aren’t going to bring their kids back if they recommend it,” Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecologic cancer, American Cancer Society, said in a press release.

Shannon Stokley, MPH, PhD, associate director of science, immunization services division, CDC, and colleagues analyzed data from the 2013 National Immunization Survey-Teen to assess trends in HPV vaccination rates among boys aged 13 to 17 years.

Results demonstrated that out of the 9,554 included participants, 34.6% had received one dose of the HPV vaccination, and 13.9% had completed the HPV vaccination series (three doses).

Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic boys were more likely to receive HPV vaccinations compared with non-Hispanic white boys, according to the researchers. Additionally, boys whose mothers were widowed, divorced or separated were more likely to receive the vaccination. Other factors associated with receiving HPV vaccination included having between one and three physician visits in the past year, having a well-child visit at age 11 or 12 years, having one or two vaccination providers living in urban or suburban areas and receiving vaccinations from more than one type of facility.

Decreased likelihood of receiving HPV vaccination was associated with boys whose mothers had some college education, having a higher family income to poverty ratio, living in the South or Midwest, and receiving vaccinations from all sexually transmitted diseases/school/teen clinics or other facilities.

Factors associated with not receiving HPV vaccination include lack of physician recommendation (24%), feeling the vaccine was unnecessary (18.9%), lack of knowledge (16.4%), patient not being sexually active (8.1%) and safety concerns (7.3%), according to the researchers.

Stokley and colleagues noted that more research is needed to determine what factors are associated with racial disparities in vaccination coverage.

“We need to work with health care providers so they are making strong recommendations and communicating with their patients about the need for this vaccine,” Stokley said in a press release. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.