Objectives: To report awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine among women aged 18-49 years and, for recommended women aged 18-26 years, estimate initiation of HPV vaccination and describe factors associated with vaccination initiation among a national sample.
Methods: Data were analyzed from the National Immunization Survey-Adult, a nationally representative telephone survey conducted May-August 2007. Questions were asked about awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine and vaccine receipt.
Results: A total of 1102 women aged 18-49 years were interviewed, 168 were aged 18-26 years. Overall, awareness of HPV (84.3%) and of HPV vaccine (78.9%) were high. Among women 18-26 years of age, vaccination initiation (> or =1 dose) was 10%. Factors associated with vaccination included not being married, living > or =200% of the federal poverty index, having health insurance, and vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine. HPV vaccination initiation among women aged 27-49 years was 1%.
Conclusions: Awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine were high. Two to 5 months after national HPV vaccination recommendations were published, one in ten women 18-26 years old had initiated the HPV vaccine series. Women at a higher socio-economic level were more likely to receive the vaccination. Vaccination initiation and completion will likely increase over the next years. Monitoring uptake is important to identify sub-groups that may not be receiving the vaccination.