Monitoring adolescent vaccination coverage: the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen), 2006

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe the NIS-Teen and its methodology and discuss the findings.

Background:
Since 2005, new vaccines have been recommended for adolescents: meningococcal (MCV4), tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. In 2006, the National Immunization Survey (NIS), which traditionally monitors vaccination coverage for children ages 19-35 months, was expanded to include adolescents aged 13-17 years (NIS-Teen).

Objectives:
To discuss adolescent vaccination coverage data

Methods:
Between October 2006 and February 2007, the NIS-Teen conducted random digit dialed telephone interviews with 5,468 parents or guardians of adolescents aged 13-17 years. Of households with completed interviews, consent to contact vaccination providers was obtained for 3,186 (76.6%) adolescents and adequate provider data were collected on 2,882 (52.5%) adolescents. Vaccination coverage estimates for recommended vaccines were determined from adequate provider data.

Results:
For adolescents aged 13-17 years, 86.9% had received ≥ 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, 81.3% had received ≥ 3 doses of Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine, 60.1% had received ≥1 tetanus-diphtheria (Td) or Tdap vaccine and 65.5% had received ≥1 varicella vaccine (of adolescents without history of prior disease). Vaccination rates for the newly recommended vaccines, MCV4 and Tdap, were 11.7% and 10.8%, respectively.

Conclusions:
The 2006 NIS-Teen has provided national data about vaccination coverage for adolescents aged 13-17 years based on provider report. Receipt of “catch-up” vaccines, HepB and MMR, was high, but receipt of new vaccines, MCV4 and Tdap, was low. Strategies to improve current vaccination rates need to be developed. In 2008, the NIS-Teen will be expanded to produce state-level estimates which will allow monitoring the effects of different factors on adolescent coverage, such as vaccine financing and school mandates.