Correlates of human papillomavirus vaccine completion among adolescent girl initiators

Objective. To examine correlates of vaccine series completion among young adolescent US girls who initiated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Methods. We analyzed National Immunization Survey-Teens 2012 provider-verified data to examine correlates of HPV vaccine completion among 13- to 17-year-old girls who initiated HPV vaccine in 2012 (N = 4548). Results. The weighted vaccine series completion rate among 13- to 17-year-old girl initiators was 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64.0-69.3). Adolescent girls who were older, residents of the Northeast (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.07-1.73), and had provider-verified seasonal influenza vaccination in the past year (aPR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.32-2.11) and provider recommendation (aPR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.77) were more likely to complete the 3-dose vaccine series. Conclusions. Parents of younger adolescent girls need to be educated about the importance of completing the 3-dose HPV vaccine series. Provider recommendation for the vaccine would also facilitate series completion.