AIM Member Communications Package NIS Teen Vaccination Data 2016

24_August_2017

Letter for Providers

Subject: CDC Releases Data Showing Millions of Teens Still Under-Vaccinated Against Serious Diseases

Dear [ENTER STATE] Vaccines for Children Program Provider,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released its annual report on adolescent vaccination coverage. The results reveal that millions of teens across the country remain under-vaccinated against serious infectious disease.1,2 Of the four routine immunizations recommended by the CDC, the two administered as multi-dose series – MenACWY and HPV vaccines – have the lowest rates1:

  • Just 39.1% of teens received the recommended second dose of MenACWY to help protect against meningococcal meningitis, while 82.2% received the first dose
  • Only 49.5% of girls and 37.5% of boys completed the HPV vaccine series
  • While the majority of teens (88%) received the Tdap booster, there is still room for improvement
  • Additionally, in 2015, less than half of teens were vaccinated against the flu3

While it’s encouraging to see slight increases in some of these rates year-on-year,1,4we’re still a long way from protecting all teens from seriousinfectious disease. These new results are another reminder of just how important it is for healthcare providers to routinely vaccinate at the 16-year-old visit. In fact, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently modified the Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule to call out a specific 16-year-old immunization visit.5

Efforts from within the immunization community are also underway. As you may have seen in a previous communication, a multidisciplinary group of experts in adolescent health and immunization created the Adolescent Immunization Initiative (AII) to help define and establish a 16-year-old immunization platform. I encourage you to read and share the AII’s, Rationale for an Immunization Platform at 16 Years of Age, which spotlights the millions of teenagers in the U.S. vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. By coming together to spread awareness, we can help boost adolescent vaccination rates.

Again, thank you for all that you do to help protect more and more teens from serious diseases.

Sincerely,

[INSERT NAME]

References:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2016. Retrieved from
  2. United States Census Bureau. (2013). Age and Sex Composition in the United States. Retrieved, from
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2015-16 Influenza Season. Retrieved from
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016).National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2015. Retrieved from
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger, UNITED STATES, 2017. Retrieved from