Technically Speaking: Give a Strong Recommendation for HPV Vaccine for All Preteens and Young Adults
Healthcare provider recommendation is the single best predictor of vaccination
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Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersPublished on
Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersThe American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American College of Physicians (ACP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) all recommend that you vaccinate your patients against human papillomavirus (HPV) on time and according to the U.S. immunization schedule.
HPV vaccine is cancer prevention, yet HPV vaccine is underutilized in our country despite the overwhelming evidence of its safety and effectiveness. While vaccination rates continue to improve for the other adolescent vaccines, HPV vaccination rates have not. Missed opportunities data suggest that providers are not giving strong recommendations for HPV vaccine when patients are 11 or 12 years old. The healthcare provider recommendation is the single best predictor of vaccination. Recent studies show that a patient who receives a provider recommendation is four to five times more likely to receive the HPV vaccine.
Three HPV vaccines (2-valent [HPV2], 4-valent [HPV4], and 9-valent [HPV9]) are available to protect against HPV 16 and 18, the types that cause most cervical and other anogenital cancers, as well as some oropharyngeal cancers. HPV4 and HPV9 protect against additional HPV strains, including most anogenital warts.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the following:
According to ACIP, HPV vaccination for boys and girls may begin as early as 9 years of age.
Your recommendation is the number one reason why someone will get the HPV vaccine and be protected from HPV-associated cancers and disease.
This article was adapted from a “Dear Colleague” letter from AAFP, AAP, ACOG, ACP, CDC and IAC, issued on Feb. 12, 2014.
Contributed by: Deborah Wexler, MD
Categories: Technically Speaking, Vaccine Update June 2016
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