Vaccine rates level off
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an estimated 53 percent of teens received the first dose of the vaccine, just 33 percent have received the full three rounds of the vaccine. The number of teens receiving all three vaccinations is declining, which is why the CDC is encouraging doctors to help in the effort.
“We assumed that one of the reasons we had such low rates was that adolescents don’t see the doctor regularly, so it’s hard to get a three dose series in,” Frieden said.
“But actually… the data showed that if HPV vaccine were given every time a young person went to the doctor to get another vaccine, the completion of those series would be at 93 percent.”
The CDC believes a doctor’s suggestion goes a long way.
“Research consistently shows that a provider’s recommendation to vaccinate is the single most influential factor in determining whether a parent gets their kid vaccinated,” CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said.
Controversial vaccine
Since HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, some parents stray away from the vaccine. The vaccine, which became available in 2006, is still controversial. The federal government suggests girls and boy receive the first dose of the vaccine around age 12.
“HPV vaccine does not open the door to sex. HPV vaccine closes the door to cancer,” Frieden said.
Statistics
- 79 million Americans are already infected with HPV
- 14 million new cases are reported each year
- 10,000 women are diagnosed with HPV-related cervical cancer each year
- 8,800 men are diagnosed with HPV-related cancer each year
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