Since 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) has recommended routine vaccination of females in the USA
aged 11 or 12 years, and for those aged 13–26 years not previously
vaccinated, with three doses of quadrivalent human papillomavirus
(HPV) vaccine;1 this recommendation was updated in 2009 to
include either quadrivalent or bivalent vaccine.2 Since 2011, ACIP
has recommended routine vaccination of males with quadrivalent
vaccine.3 Both vaccines have demonstrated >93% efficacy in
preventing cervical precancers associated with HPV 16 and 18,4,5
which cause 70% of cervical cancers.6 The quadrivalent vaccine also
prevents HPV 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts.7 In the
USA, almost all HPV vaccine used is the quadrivalent vaccine.8 HPV
vaccine uptake remains low compared to other adolescent
vaccines;9 in 2013, only 37.6% of females aged 13–17 years had
received all three doses of the HPV vaccine.10
Accurate estimates of HPV vaccination coverage are needed
to monitor vaccination programs, identify under-vaccinated
populations, and inform efforts to improve coverage. Adolescent
vaccination coverage in the USA is measured by annual national
surveys involving verification with provider vaccination records.9
Data from provider-verified vaccination are considered the most
accurate sources of information, but collection may not be feasible
in many settings.11 Other sources of information include