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The article presents a study on the statewide vaccine initiation for human papillomavirus (HPV) to adolescent girls in North Carolina, in order to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Based on results, vaccine initiation was higher for 13-15 year old girls and parents of unvaccinated non-Hispanic white daughters have lesser intentions to be vaccinated in 2011. It concludes that HPV vaccination in North Carolina shows significant response compared to other U.S. areas.

The article focuses on a study to determine the longitudinal predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake in populations that are at high risk for cervical cancer. Interviews were conducted on parents of 10 to 18 year-old girls in North Carolina particularly non-Hispanic white with 56% and black with 35%. Results show that 27% of the girls covered by the study had initiated HPV vaccine. It also recommends correlates of uptakes that provide opportunities for increased vaccine uptake.

Background: To better target future immunization efforts, we assessed trends and disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation among female adolescents in North Carolina over 3 years., Methods: We analyzed data from a stratified random sample of 1,427 parents who, between 2008 and 2010, completed two linked telephone surveys: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program surveys. Weighted analyses examined HPV vaccine initiation for girls ages 11 to 17 years., Results: HPV vaccine initiation increased modestly over time (2008, 34%; 2009, 41%; 2010, 44%). This upward trend was present within 11 subpopulations of girls, including those who lived in rural areas, were of minority (non-black/non-white) race, or had not recently received a preventive check-up. Looking at differences between groups, HPV vaccine initiation was less common among girls who attended private versus public school, were younger, or lacked a recent check-up. However, the latter difference narrowed over time. The low level of initiation among girls without recent check-ups increased substantially (from 11% to 41%), whereas initiation among girls with recent visits improved little (from 39% to 44%, P(interaction) = 0.007)., Conclusions: Although HPV vaccine initiation improved among several groups typically at higher risk for cervical cancer, the lack of progress among girls with recent check-ups suggests that missed opportunities for administration have hampered broader improvements., Impact: Achieving widespread coverage of HPV vaccine will require redoubled efforts to vaccinate adolescents during routine care., (©2012 AACR.)

Less than half of gay and bisexual men indicated they had received some doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine. Hepatitis B virus vaccination was higher among men who were 18 to 29 years old (compared to those 50-59 years old), gay, or had received flu vaccine within the last year.