The percentage of children with up-to-date HPV vaccine coverage remains lower compared with pre-COVID 19 pandemic levels, according to a study published in Vaccine. Chun R. Chao, PhD, and colleagues used EMRs to assess monthly volume of HPV vaccine doses administered among children aged 9-12.9 and up-to-date coverage (percent vaccinated) by age 13 between March 2019 and September 2021. HPV vaccine doses administered in 2020 and 2021 have returned to the 2019 level after the initial drop during the beginning of the pandemic (March-April 2020). However, from March 2021 to September 2021, the average up-to-date coverage remained lower than the pre-pandemic level (54.8% vs 58.5%). Similar patterns were seen across race/ethnicity, neighborhood deprivation index, and HPV vaccine coverage. “System efforts for promoting
childhood and adolescent vaccination during a pandemic are likely necessary to ensure adequate vaccination rates,” Dr. Chao and colleagues wrote.
