MedicinePediatricsPreventive MedicineAdolescent HealthImmunizationVaccinologyImmunization CoverageImmunization PolicyPediatric ImmunizationVaccinationVaccination PolicyVaccine PolicyAdolescent Immunization CoverageChildhood Immunization CoverageImmunization Coverage AnalysisMeningococcal Conjugate VaccinesPediatric Immunization PolicyPediatric VaccinationVaccination Coverage AssessmentVaccination Coverage In Children
Three new vaccines have been recommended for adolescents by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) since 2005: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4; 1 dose), tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap; 1 dose), and quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV4; 3 doses). ACIP also recommends that adolescents should receive recommended vaccinations that were missed during childhood. Since 2006, CDC has conducted the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) to estimate vaccination coverage from a national sample of adolescents aged 13-17 years. This report describes the findings from NIS-Teen 2007, which indicated substantial increases in receipt of new adolescent vaccinations compared with 2006, including Tdap (from 10.8% to 30.4%) and MCV4 (from 11.7% to 32.4%), and increases in coverage with childhood vaccinations, including measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), hepatitis B (HepB), and varicella (VAR) (among those without disease history). An assessment of HPV4 coverage, which is reported for the first time, showed that 25.1% of adolescent females initiated the vaccine series (>/=1 dose) in 2007. To improve vaccination coverage among adolescents, health-care providers should take advantage of every health-care visit as an opportunity to evaluate vaccination status and administer vaccines when needed.