Race-specific trends in HPV vaccinations and provider recommendations: persistent disparities or social progress?

- We examined racial and ethnic differences in HPV vaccination initiation over time.
- We examined the role of health provider recommendations in reducing racial and ethnic inequalities in HPV vaccination uptake.
- Provider recommendations to vaccinate and HPV vaccination uptake have increased over time for all adolescents.
- Among girls, minority youths have seen a sharper increase in provider recommendations and HPV vaccination uptake.
- Among boys, Hispanics have lagged behind non-Hispanic Whites in the rate of provider recommendations and HPV vaccinations.

ObjectivesAlthough racial and ethnic differences in HPV vaccination initiation are well established, it is unclear whether these disparities have changed over time. The role of health provider recommendations in reducing any racial and ethnic inequalities is also uncertain. This study addresses these gaps in the literature.Study designRepeated cross-sectional design.MethodsUsing data from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (2008-2013), we estimated a series of binary logistic regressions to model race-specific trends in (1) provider recommendations to vaccinate against HPV and (2) HPV vaccine initiation for males (n = 56,632) and females (n = 77,389).ResultsProvider recommendations to vaccinate and HPV vaccination uptake have increased over time for adolescent males and females and across all racial and ethnic groups. Among girls, minority youths have seen a sharper increase in provider recommendations and HPV vaccination uptake than their White counterparts. Among boys, minority teens maintain higher overall rates of HPV vaccine uptake, however, Hispanics have lagged behind non-Hispanic Whites in the rate of increase in provider recommendations and HPV vaccinations.ConclusionsOur results suggest that racial and ethnic disparities in provider recommendations and HPV vaccinations have waned over time among males and females. While these trends are welcomed, additional interventions are warranted to increase overall rates of vaccination across race, ethnicity, and gender.