| Let’s start with the good news. Since human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was licensed for use in the U.S. in 2006, vaccine-type HPV prevalence has declined 56 percent among females 14 through 19 years of age. |
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| Now for the bad news. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent National Immunization Survey for teens, HPV vaccination rates did not increase at all from 2011 to 2012 in 13- to 17-year-old girls. Only half of these teens received the first dose of this anticancer vaccine, and only one-third received the full three-dose series. |
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| Tdap and meningococcal vaccines were added to the vaccination schedule for preteens at about the same time, yet their coverage rates are much higher, 85 percent and 74 percent, respectively. |
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| These survey results demonstrate that we are missing opportunities to vaccinate preteens against HPV. We need to do better. |
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| Provider Recommendations Matter |
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| Research consistently shows that a provider’s recommendation to vaccinate is the single most influential factor in convincing parents to vaccinate their children. Here are some important points to remember and statements you can make to parents when recommending HPV vaccine: |
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Rather than just asking parents if they’re interested in getting HPV vaccine for their child, you could say: “HPV vaccine is very important because it prevents cancer. That’s why I’m recommending that your daughter/son receive the first dose of HPV vaccine today.” |
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You can say: “HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women, cancer of the penis in men, and cancers of the anus and the mouth or throat in both men and women.” |
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You can say: “We’re vaccinating your child today so that he/she will have the best protection possible, well before he/she might be exposed to HPV.” |
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You can say: “I strongly believe in the importance of this cancer-preventing vaccine, and I have given HPV vaccine to my son/daughter/grandchild/niece/nephew/friend’s children. Experts (like the AAP, AAFP, ACOG, cancer doctors, and CDC) also agree that this vaccine is very important for your child.” |
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| How You Approach the HPV Vaccine Discussion Matters |
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| Your approach to discussing HPV vaccination with a parent strongly influences whether they have their child vaccinated. When you only ask parents if they’d like to vaccinate their child, rather than recommending it, vaccine acceptance drops significantly. Your strong recommendation is what is needed to protect our nation’s children from HPV. |
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| Useful HPV Resources for Your Practice |
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| From the CDC: |
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| From the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC): |
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| From the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC): |
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