Dr. John Luque, assistant professor of community health and behavior education at Georgia Southern University Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, working with colleagues Dr. Yelena Tarasenko, assistant professor of health policy and management and of epidemiology, Dr. Betty Dixon, alumni, Dr. Robert Vogel, professor of biostatistics, and Dr. Stuart Tedders, associate dean of academic affairs, examines recommendations and administration of the HPV vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old girls and boys. This study explores the prevalence and provider- and practice-related correlates of physician recommendation and administration of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, to 11- to 12-year-old girls and the intention to recommend the HPV vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old boys in Georgia. The study also describes physician knowledge about and barriers to HPV vaccination.

 Despite the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations on HPV vaccination, the prevalence of recommending and administering the HPV vaccine to female and male patients, aged 11 to 12 years, by VFC providers is an ongoing challenge in Georgia.

http://fridayletter.aspph.org/article_view.cfm?fl_index=35&fle_index=1812