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. 2016 Feb;25(2):274-81.
doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-15-0574. Epub 2015 Dec 16.

Summer Peaks in Uptake of Human Papillomavirus and Other Adolescent Vaccines in the United States

Jennifer L Moss  1 , Paul L Reiter  2 , Barbara K Rimer  3 , Kurt M Ribisl  3 , Noel T Brewer  4
Affiliations

Summer Peaks in Uptake of Human Papillomavirus and Other Adolescent Vaccines in the United States

Jennifer L Moss et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Seasonality in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination could have a large impact on national cancer prevention efforts. We hypothesized that uptake of HPV vaccine and other adolescent vaccines in the United States would be highest in the summer.

Methods: Data came from health care provider-verified vaccination records for 70,144 adolescents (ages 13-17 years) from the 2008 to 2012 versions of the National Immunization Survey-Teen. Using the Edwards method for testing annual trends, we examined seasonal patterns in the uptake of HPV and other recommended adolescent vaccines [tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) booster and meningococcal vaccine]. HPV vaccine initiation (receipt of the first of the three-dose series) data were for female adolescents.

Results: Uptake for HPV and other adolescent vaccines peaked in the summer across years and states (all P < 0.001). Uptake was five times as frequent at the peak as at the trough for HPV vaccine, and HPV vaccine initiation was highest in June, July, and August (percent of doses delivered in these months: 38.7%). The same pattern existed for Tdap booster and meningococcal vaccine. Concomitant (same-day) vaccination of HPV vaccine with other adolescent vaccines also demonstrated summer peaks each year nationally (all P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Uptake of adolescent vaccines increased dramatically in summer months. These summer peaks are an important opportunity for interventions focused on concomitant vaccination.

Impact: The potential cancer prevention impact of HPV vaccination programs could be increased, for example, by delivering messages about concomitant vaccination during the summer, when adolescents and their parents might be most open to them.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: Jennifer L. Moss, Barbara K. Rimer, and Kurt M. Ribisl have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Paul L. Reiter has received a research grant from Cervical Cancer-Free America, via an unrestricted educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline. Noel T. Brewer has served on paid advisory boards or received research grants from Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. These entities had no role in the study design, data analysis, or reporting of the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summer peaks in adolescent vaccine uptake in the United States and individual states. Uptake standardized at 100 per month for 2007 to 2012. Source: National Immunization Survey-Teen, administered 2008 to 2012.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Summer peaks in adolescent vaccine uptake in the United States, by year. Uptake standardized at 100 per month for 2007 to 2012. Source: National Immunization Survey-Teen, administered 2008 to 2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Department of Health and Human Services. Immunization and infectious diseases. http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?t.... Updated 2015.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National and state vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13–17 years--United States, 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62:685–693. - PMC - PubMed
    1. President's Cancer Panel. Accelerating HPV vaccine uptake: Urgency for action to prevent cancer. http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/HPV/PDF/PCP_Annual.... Updated 2014.

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