The 2009 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) estimates that coverage for adolescent vaccination at the national, state and selected local area levels show continued nationwide improvement – as much as 15 percent – for vaccines specifically recommended for pre-teens. The survey of more than 20,000 teens aged 13-17 found that in 2009 there were increases in the percentage of teens in this age group who had received vaccines routinely recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds. Specifically:

– For one dose of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), coverage went up about 15 points to about 56 percent;

– For one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine, coverage went up about 12 points to about 54 percent;

– For girls who received at least one dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, coverage increased 7 points to about 44 percent. However, for girls who received the recommended three doses of HPV vaccine, coverage was only about 27 percent (a 9 percent increase);

– For one dose of HPV vaccine, no differences were observed between racial/ethnic groups. However, coverage was higher among teens living in poverty compared with those living at or above the poverty level.

– For the recommended three doses of HPV vaccine, differences were observed between racial/ethnic groups, including significantly lower coverage for blacks and Hispanics compared to whites;

– There were no significant differences in coverage by racial/ethnic group or by poverty status for Tdap or meningococcal conjugate vaccine; and

As in 2008, there was wide variation in adolescent vaccination coverage among state and local areas.

Anne Schuchat, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, commented, “This year’s data are mixed. We can see that more parents of adolescents are electing to protect their children from serious diseases such as pertussis, meningitis, and cervical cancer, but there is clear room for improvement in our system’s ability to reach this age group.”

http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r100819b.htm