Kansas HPV Vaccine Rates Improve Significantly

KDHE

The National Immunization Survey regarding teens released its annual report for 2018 which shows Kansas is improving in vaccine rates for HPV and MenACWY and remaining consistent with Tdap. This report is available in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey, which is conducted among teens ages 13 to 17, monitors the vaccines received by adolescents, specifically HPV, MenACWY and Tdap.* “In 2014, Kansas had the lowest coverage in the nation for the HPV vaccine with only 34.4 percent of respondents reporting one or more doses received,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “I’m very pleased to report that Kansas is now at 62.3 percent coverage in 2018, up significantly from 52.4 percent in 2017.”

Kansas has seen an average increase in HPV coverage of 6.3 percentage points annually since 2014 while the national average increase has been 4.4.

*Vaccine Description:
1. Tdap – protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. The vaccine is recommended for children ages 11-13. The Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent coverage. Kansas’ 2018 rate is 89.4 percent.
2. MenACWY – protects against certain strains of meningococcal disease. This vaccination is recommended for patients ages 11-13 with a booster dose at age 16. The Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. Kansas’ 2018 rate is 75.3 percent.
3. HPV – protects against HPV-related cancers. Two-dose series are recommended for ages 11-13. Doses should be administered six months apart. If the first dose is not given before 15th birthday, a three-dose series is needed. The Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. The Kansas 2018 rate is 62.3 for one or more doses.