• The annual reported rate captures activity during the previous calendar year. 
• This is a Healthcare Effectiveness & Data Information Set (HEDIS) administrative measure.
• In 2017, the HPV vaccine was added to this measure & the Combination 2 rate created.
• The DVHA Data Unit uses HEDIS specifications and cross-tabulates administrative claims data with the Vermont Department of Health's Immunization Registry.
• As of 2014, DVHA’s rates only include only Medicaid Primary beneficiaries in HEDIS administrative measures.
• The target trend line is the 50th percentile national benchmark for Medicaid programs.  

Percentage of adolescents 13 years of age during the measurement year who had received the following vaccinations on or before their 13th birthday:

• one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine
• one tetanus, diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) vaccine
• three doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

The measure calculates a rate for each vaccine and two combination rates:

• Combination 1:  Adolescents who are numerator compliant for both the meningococcal conjugate & Tdap vaccines
• Combination 2:  Adolescents who are numerator compliant for all three indicators (meningococcal, Tdap, HPV)

This measure follows the CDC/ACIP guidelines for immunizations.

Adolescent immunization rates have historically lagged behind early childhood immunization rates in the U.S.  In 2000, the AAP reported that 3 million adolescents failed to receive at least one recommended vaccination.  Low immunization rates among adolescents have the potential to cause outbreaks of preventable diseases and to establish reservoirs of disease in adolescents that can affect other populations including infants, the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions.  Immunization recommendations for adolescents have changed in recent years.  In addition to assessing for immunizations that may have been miussed, there are new vaccines targeted speciafically to adolescents.  One such vaccine is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.  HPV infections have significant health consquences:  it is associated with certain cancers (e.g., cervical and oropharyngeal cancers) and accounts for approximately 26,000 new cancer cases in the U.S. each year (18,000 among femailes and 8,000 among males).  Vaccines are available that can prevent infection with the strains of HV that commonly cause cancer.  The HPV vaccine has been demonstrated to be more than 98% effective in preventing new cases of cervical pre-cancers caused by these strains of HPV.

Immunization rates can be improved through the development and use of electronic systems that track immunization status and notify physicians or parents when an immunization is due.  Additionally, expanded hours, parent education and community outreach have also helped  increase immunization performance.

Last updated:  February 2020