1 in 4 California Teen Girls Received Gardasil Vaccination in 2007
In 2007, one in four teenage girls in California got at least one dose of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, according to a study the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Gardasil protects against four strains of human papillomavirus, which is associated with about 70% of all cervical cancers in the U.S. and 90% of genital warts.
In March 2007, CDC recommended the vaccine for females ages 11 to 26. The vaccine works most effectively when administered before someone is sexually active.
Study Findings, Methodology
The study is based on the California Health Interview Survey, which interviews more than 50,000 Californians randomly by phone.
Survey director David Grant said preliminary data showed few differences by race, ethnicity and economic status among adolescent girls.
The Times notes that the federal Vaccines for Children program provides vaccinations at no-cost within this age group.
However, among women ages 18 to 26, fewer Hispanic and black women received Gardasil.
Grant attributed the disparity to an absence of automatic coverage for the vaccination among women in the older age group.Â
Researchers said they will soon release more data on compliance with CDC's recommendation among different ethnic and socioeconomic groups (Engel, Los Angeles Times, 2/18).
Broadcast Coverage
KPBS' "KPBS News" reported on the study Tuesday. The segment includes comments from Grant (Goldberg, "KPBS News," KPBS, 2/17). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.