RENO - Recently, the CDC released the 2011 National Immunization Survey (NIS) Teen report. Coverage data shows that Nevada's immunization rates for teens 13 through 17 years old continue to improve for all recommended vaccinations. For tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), coverage rates met the Healthy People 2020 objective of 80 percent for the first time with a coverage rate of 80.2 percent in the state. Nationally, vaccination rates in adolescents continue to improve for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine and for meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4).
"The increase in vaccination coverage for adolescents is an important milestone for Nevada, especially the 16 percent jump in Tdap coverage since 2009," said Erin Seward, Immunization Program Manager for the Nevada State Health Division. "As we make progress in the right direction, it's important to make sure we are protecting our teenagers from all vaccine preventable diseases, especially HPV. This life-saving vaccine can protect women against cervical cancer later in life, and we encourage more Nevadans to get this important vaccination. The HPV vaccine is also recommended for boys."
On par with the rest of the country, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in Nevada are concerning. While about 55.3 percent of females have had one dose of HPV, just 30.9 percent completed the recommended three-dose series last year. Nationally, HPV vaccination rates among girls continue to plateau and only half of U.S. girls are getting the vaccine.
"Many parents may not recognize that immunizations are just as important during adolescence, as when their child was a baby," adds Heidi Parker, Immunize Nevada Executive Director. "Parents, healthcare providers and immunization partners all have a role in helping keep Nevada's adolescent girls and boys healthy by making sure they have current recommended immunizations including Tdap and the complete three-dose HPV series."
Of girls who have started the HPV vaccine series and had time to receive all three doses prior to the NIS survey, nearly 1 in 4 girls did not get all three shots. Of boys who started and had time to complete the HPV vaccine series, about 2 of 3 boys did not get all three shots.
"We recommend that anyone with a daughter or son who is 11-12 years old and has not started the HPV series to do so right away," Parker said. "Even if a child is between 13 and 18 years old and hasn't started or finished the HPV vaccine series, it's not too late to protect them."
Additional NIS information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/nisteen/articles.htm For information about immunizations in Nevada visit www.immunizenevada.org or call (775) 870-4337.
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