Completion and timing of the three-dose human papillomavirus vaccine series among adolescents attending school-based health centers in Oregon.

Objective: Many adolescents do not complete the 3-dose human papillomavirus vaccine series in the recommended time frame, or at all. Given the challenges of administering a multi-dose vaccine to adolescents, especially those in vulnerable populations, we evaluated completion of the human papillomavirus vaccine series in 19 of Oregon's school-based health centers.

Methods: Among persons aged 0-17 who initiated the human papillomavirus vaccine series at a study school-based health center in 2007, we identified all subsequent human papillomavirus doses administered at the school-based health centers, or found in Oregon's immunization information system, in 2007-2008. We describe the proportion completing the vaccine series and mean intervals between doses, stratified by age, race, and insurance status.

Results: Four hundred fifty persons initiated the human papillomavirus series in 2007. By December 2008, 51% of these had received all 3 doses. Series completion increased significantly with age, differed significantly between race groups (highest among white persons (56%); lowest among black persons (38%)), and did not differ significantly by insurance status. Mean intervals between doses did not differ significantly by race or insurance status.

Conclusions: Even in challenging conditions, school-based health centers provide excellent preventive care to vulnerable youth. These results support the importance of maintaining and expanding school-based health center access in vulnerable adolescent populations.