HPV vaccination rates remain critically low among younger adolescents in the U.S.

Only about 16 percent of U.S. adolescents have been fully vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) by the time they turn 13, despite national recommendations that call for vaccination at 11 to 12 years of age. The new findings highlight the need for stronger efforts to encourage HPV vaccination and to improve immunization rates in this key age group.