Dental provider vaccination recommendations, a parent accepted strategy for disease prevention

Abstract

Recommended vaccines for adolescents between the ages of 11-17 years in the United States (U.S.) are tetanus-diphtheriaacellular pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate (MCV4), human papillomavirus (HPV), and seasonal influenza (flu). While U.S. vaccine coverage rates for Tdap and MCV4 approach Healthy People target goals of 80%, coverage rates are 43% for HPV1 and 49% for flu.2 The American Academy of Paediatrics cites the need for improvement in vaccination rates.3 A model suggests that increasing HPV vaccine coverage to 80% for 13 birth cohorts of U.S. girls 12 and under could avoid 53,300 lifetime cervical cancer cases.4 Given that most flu-associated pediatric deaths are in children who were not vaccinated, estimates show that vaccination could reduce risk of death by 50% for children in high-risk categories and two-thirds for children with no high-risk conditions.5 With pertussis disease rates increasing,6 increased vaccination coverage could prevent death and disease. Renewed strategies are needed to address low vaccination rates.