Improving Adolescent Immunization Coverage: The Time to Act Is Now

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2016 National Immunization Survey-Teen was recently released and, once again, adolescent immunization rates for some vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are disappointingly low. The CDC recommends adolescents receive four immunizations--two of which are administered as multidose series--to help protect against meningococcal meningitis; human papillomavirus; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough); and influenza. Despite these recommendations, in 2016 only 39% of 13- through 17-year-olds who received the first dose of meningococcal meningitis vaccine received the recommended second dose, and only 43% of girls and 32% of boys completed the human papillomavirus vaccine series. While the majority (88%) of teens received the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster, there is still room for improvement. Furthermore, less than half of teens 13 through 17 years of age were vaccinated against the flu during the 2015-2016 influenza season. Here, Klein et al discuss the Unity Consortium's recently issued whitepaper titled Adolescent Immunization: Understanding Challenges and Framing Solutions for Healthcare Providers which summarizes the current immunization landscape, including barriers to successful implementation, and highlights potential solutions to help reach important immunization targets for this population.