Top 5 Takeaways

1. Increased HPV Vaccination: In 2021, there was an increase in HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13–17 years, with 76.9% having received at least one dose and 61.7% being up to date on the HPV vaccine.
2. Stable Tdap and MenACWY Coverage: Coverage for at least one dose of Tdap and MenACWY vaccines remained high and stable at 89.6% and 89.0% respectively.
3. Geographic Disparities in Vaccination: Vaccination coverage was lower in non-metropolitan statistical areas (non-MSAs) compared to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), particularly for HPV and HepA vaccines.
4. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic led to decreased coverage in some vaccines. Adolescents born in 2008 showed a decrease in ≥1 dose of MenACWY and ≥1 dose of Tdap vaccines.
5. Need for Catch-up Vaccinations: There’s an emphasis on the importance of catching up on missed vaccinations, especially for adolescents who missed routine medical care during the pandemic.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Cassandra Pingali, ncu9@cdc.gov

Suggested Citation

Pingali C, Yankey D, Elam-Evans LD, et al. National Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — National Immunization Survey-Teen, United States, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1101–1108. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7135a1.

Summary

The report by Cassandra Pingali and colleagues in the MMWR analyzes vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13-17 in the United States for the year 2021. It highlights the overall high coverage for vaccines like Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV. However, it also reveals disparities in vaccination coverage by geographic location and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine adolescent vaccinations.

Methods

The study utilized data from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen), a random-digit-dialed telephone survey assessing vaccination coverage among adolescents. The survey involved interviews with parents or guardians and obtaining vaccination records from healthcare providers.

Discussion

The findings show significant progress in adolescent vaccination coverage, yet underscore ongoing challenges like geographic disparities and pandemic-related disruptions. The report suggests that more efforts are needed to increase vaccination rates in non-MSAs and catch up on vaccinations missed due to the pandemic.

Conclusion

Maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial for protecting adolescents from vaccine-preventable diseases. Healthcare providers play a key role in identifying adolescents behind on vaccinations and promoting vaccine uptake.

This has been your booster shot of MMWR Info! Please check back for more MMWR, Public Health, and Programming Tutorial content daily.