Missed opportunities for human papillomavirus vaccination using Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System

Purpose

Adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates continue to remain lower than other adolescent vaccines, both nationwide and in Iowa. This study examined predictors of missed opportunities for first-dose HPV vaccine administrations in Iowa in order to conduct more targeted outreach and improve adolescent HPV vaccine uptake.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to identify predictors of missed opportunities for first-dose HPV vaccination in Iowa adolescents using Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System. The study population included 154,905 adolescents aged 11-15 years between 2019 and 2022. Missed opportunity for first-dose HPV vaccination was defined as a vaccination encounter where an adolescent received a Tdap and/or MenACWY vaccine but did not receive the first-dose HPV vaccine during the same encounter.

Findings

Over a third of the study population experienced a missed opportunity for HPV vaccination between 2019 and 2022. Missed opportunity for vaccination was most common among individuals living in a rural county (aOR = 1.36), underinsured adolescents (aOR = 1.74), males (aOR = 1.12), teens 13-15 years of age (aOR = 1.76), and White race and non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Conclusion

This study builds on previously reported predictors of missed opportunity for HPV vaccination in adolescents. Increased understanding of provider needs and barriers to administering HPV vaccination and further analysis of how the Vaccines for Children Program can play a role in HPV vaccination uptake is necessary to improve HPV vaccination rates among adolescents in Iowa and more specifically in rural communities.