New York State Department of Health Achieves National Recognition for High Adolescent Immunization Rates

Immunization rates for teens ages 13 to 17 exceed national averages for measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, diphtheria and tetanus and HPV

Targeted outreach significantly boosts teen HPV vaccination rates and awareness of human papillomavirus

ALBANY, N.Y. (August 25, 2017) - The New York State Department of Health is being honored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for achieving high vaccination rates for measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, diphtheria and tetanus, as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) in New York adolescents ages 13 to 17.

"Vaccination still remains the best and safest way to protect children and adults against disease. New York State's targeted efforts to encourage childhood vaccination for known illnesses, including our public awareness campaign on the human papillomavirus vaccine, have resulted in some of the highest vaccination rates in the United States," said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. "I encourage all New Yorkers to get vaccinated on schedule and take the steps necessary to protect their health and the health of others."

According to data analyzed by the CDC from the 2016 National Immunization Survey - Teen (NIS-Teen), New York's immunization rates exceed national averages with 91.1% of teens covered by the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine and 89.2% inoculated for meningitis. The national target is 80% for both vaccines.

CDC's publication will highlight New York State as having had among the greatest improvement in the nation in HPV vaccination rates from 2015 to 2016, as well as having had annual increases that exceed the national average over a four-year period. The percentage of New York teens, both male and female, who have started the HPV vaccine series significantly increased from 61.3% in 2015 to 71.5% in 2016. The national average, combined for both genders, for the HPV vaccination series is 60.4%. The uptick in HPV vaccination may be attributed to NYSDOH's targeted outreach over the last several years to healthcare providers and extensive public awareness campaigns reminding people about the vaccine. School meningococcal vaccine requirements may have also indirectly improved HPV coverage if the vaccine was offered at the same time as other required immunizations.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that adolescents routinely receive tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine and HPV vaccines at age 11-12 years. ACIP also recommends catch-up vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and varicella vaccine for adolescents who are not up to date with childhood vaccinations. A 2-dose schedule for the HPV vaccine is recommended before age 15.

NIS-Teen is an annual survey that collects data from parents and guardians from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories on vaccines received by adolescents aged 13-17 years.

To view the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2016,please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6633a2.htm?s_cid=mm6633a2_w.

For more information about New York's vaccination and immunization programs, please visit https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/.