Adolescent Vaccination: Coverage Achieved by Ages 13–15 Years, and Vaccinations Received as Recommended During Ages 11–12 Years, National Health Interview Survey 1997–2003

Abstract 

Purpose

To present progress toward Healthy People 2010 vaccination objectives for adolescents aged 13–15 years, and to determine how much catch-up and routine vaccination was administered at the recommended ages of 11–12 years.

Methods

Data from the 1997–2003 National Health Interview Survey were evaluated. In the first analysis, vaccination coverage levels for adolescents aged 13–15 years were determined for each survey year. Main outcome measures include the percent of adolescents who had received the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B) series, the two-dose measles/mumps/rubella vaccine (MMR) series, the tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) booster, and one dose of varicella vaccine. In the second analysis, data from all survey years were combined and vaccination dates were analyzed to determine the percentage of adolescents who were missing any vaccines at ages 11–12 and received them at that age. Data for varicella vaccine were sufficient only for the first analysis.

Results

Among the approximately 15%–20% of respondents who reported vaccination history from records in the home and who were reporting on a 13–15-year-old, coverage with three doses of Hep B increased significantly during 1997–2001, from 15.2% to 55.0%. Coverage with MMR and Td fluctuated, with no significant increase; highs were 76.7% for MMR in 2003 and 36.2% for Td in 2002. Examination of vaccination dates for all surveyed adolescents showed that among 11–12-year-olds who needed catch-up vaccine, 0.6%–31.3% were brought up to date for Hep B and 22.1%–31.8% were brought up to date for MMR. For Td, 2.6%–15.4% of 11–12-year-olds who had not previously received Td received the vaccine.

Conclusion

Vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13–15 years was below the Healthy People 2010 goals of 90%, but generally increased over the survey years. However, the suboptimal delivery of needed vaccines during ages 11 and 12 is concerning in light of recent vaccine recommendations targeted at this age. Continuing to focus on strategies to make adolescent preventive care, including vaccination, a new norm is essential.

Keywords: Immunization assessment, Adolescence