The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine vaccination of children aged 11–12 years with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap); quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY); and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (which may begin at age 9 years). At age 16 years, adolescents should receive a booster dose of MenACWY. In addition, persons aged 16–23 years may receive serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (MenB) on the basis of shared clinical decision-making. Adolescents should also catch up on missed childhood vaccines, stay current with COVID-19 vaccinations, and receive an annual influenza vaccine.
CDC analyzed data from the 2023 National Immunization Survey-Teen for 16,658 adolescents aged 13–17 years (born during January 2005–December 2010) to assess vaccination coverage in 2023, recent trends in coverage by birth year, and trends in coverage by eligibility for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and birth year. In 2023, coverage with all routine vaccines recommended for adolescents was similar to coverage in 2022. Vaccination coverage among VFC-eligible adolescents was generally stable during the COVID-19 pandemic, except for a decrease in the percentage of VFC-eligible adolescents who were up to date with HPV vaccination by age 13 years among those born in 2010 compared with those born in 2007. Whereas coverage differences were found between VFC-eligible and non–VFC-eligible adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic, coverage was similar among the most recent birth years in the survey. Providers should make strong recommendations for all routine vaccines and review adolescent vaccination records to verify if adolescents are up to date with all recommended vaccines.