Missed opportunity to provide HPV vaccine and educate adolescents: Rhode Island middle and high school students' self-reported HPV vaccination, 2013 RI YRBS.

The nation’s cancer status report in 2013 highlighted that cancers attributable to human papilloma virus (HPV) increased in the past decade, particularly cancers in the oropharynx and anus.1 HPV vaccine is crucial in reducing the burden of HPV-associated cancers, by protecting against HPV infections that cause cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal and oropharyngeal cancers.2,3 Non-cancerous lesions, such as genital warts, are also prevented by the currently licensed HPV vaccine.3 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended vaccination against HPV for young females since 2007, and young males since 2011.3 Despite the robust evidence on vaccine efficacy, safety and cost benefit, only 56% of girls and 43% of boys ages 13–17 years in Rhode Island, were estimated to be up-to-date on the three-dose HPV vaccine series, according to the 2013 National Immunization Survey (NIS)-Teen.4 The national Healthy People 2020 goal (IID-11.4) is to reach at least 80% coverage among female adolescents ages 13–15 years.5 To identify challenges and opportunities in current HPV vaccine coverage, Rhode Island adolescents’ self-reported receipt of HPV vaccine was examined in this study. With the study aimed to assess any missed opportunity in provision of HPV vaccine, the authors further evaluated demographic and other characteristics of adolescents who had a recent primary care visit but did not receive HPV vaccine or were not aware of their vaccination status.