As families prepare for the back-to-school season, now is a critical time for family physicians to help patients get up to date on all recommended vaccines — including the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Although adolescent vaccination rates for Tdap and MenACWY remain high, HPV vaccination continues to lag behind, despite its ability to prevent several types of cancer.
The Numbers Tell the Story
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Immunization Survey-Teen, HPV vaccination coverage has consistently been lower than coverage for other CDC-recommended adolescent vaccines. In 2022, over 89% of adolescents received at least one dose of Tdap, and over 88% received one dose of MenACWY, compared to only 62% who were up to date with their HPV vaccination.¹
While rates have trended upward over time, the disparity indicates missed opportunities to protect teens against HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, and other genital cancers.
Missed Opportunities Start Early
New data from 2021–23 show that most well visits at ages 9-10, when the HPV vaccine series can be initiated, do not include any vaccinations. At age 9, 97% of visits included no vaccine administration at all, and by age 10, that figure was still over 90%.² This is a pivotal window where family physicians can take action and normalize HPV vaccination as part of routine preventive care.
Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy: Use the Presumptive Approach
A major barrier to HPV vaccine uptake is vaccine hesitancy, especially among parents who may not understand the vaccine’s cancer-preventing benefits or who are uncomfortable discussing a vaccine related to a sexually transmitted infection.
Evidence shows that how you frame the conversation matters. The presumptive approach — starting the conversation with a statement like, “Today your child is due for three vaccines that will help protect against meningitis, HPV-related cancers, and tetanus” — is significantly more effective than asking open-ended questions such as, “Would you like to vaccinate for HPV today?”
- Communicates confidence in the recommendation
- Frames HPV as routine, safe, and expected
- Reduces uncertainty and builds trust with families.
- Review your patient panel to identify adolescents who are due or overdue for HPV, Tdap, and MenACWY vaccines.
- Start the conversation early, ages 9-10, to allow more time for completion before high school.
- Train your team on using the presumptive approach and answering common parent concerns.
- Use every visit (sports physicals, well checks, acute visits) as a chance to review and update vaccination status.
- Check out the OAFP’s EasyPI: HPV Vaccination track for additional information and support to turn these efforts into a performance improvement project for credit.
As trusted individuals, family physicians are in a unique position to close the HPV vaccination gap. By taking advantage of this back-to-school window, we can help protect Ohio’s adolescents from preventable cancers for a lifetime.
This spotlight is proudly supported by our Partner in Health, Merck; however, all content and data come from independent sources.
- CDC National Immunization Survey-Teen, United States, 2018–22
- Merative MarketScan Research Database, 2021–23 (commercially insured patients only)