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OBJECTIVES: To report awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine among women aged 18-49 years and, for recommended women aged 18-26 years, estimate initiation of HPV vaccination and describe factors associated with vaccination initiation among a national sample. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Immunization Survey-Adult, a nationally representative telephone survey conducted May-August 2007. Questions were asked about awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine and vaccine receipt. RESULTS: A total of 1102 women aged 18-49 years were interviewed, 168 were aged 18-26 years. Overall, awareness of HPV (84.3%) and of HPV vaccine (78.9%) were high. Among women 18-26 years of age, vaccination initiation (> or =1 dose) was 10%. Factors associated with vaccination included not being married, living > or =200% of the federal poverty index, having health insurance, and vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine. HPV vaccination initiation among women aged 27-49 years was 1%. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine were high. Two to 5 months after national HPV vaccination recommendations were published, one in ten women 18-26 years old had initiated the HPV vaccine series. Women at a higher socio-economic level were more likely to receive the vaccination. Vaccination initiation and completion will likely increase over the next years. Monitoring uptake is important to identify sub-groups that may not be receiving the vaccination. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To estimate race/ethnicity-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant urban women and to evaluate factors associated with maternal HBsAg testing. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective chart review was conducted of a racially/ethnically stratified random sample of maternal/infant charts of 10 523 women who gave birth to live infants during 1990-1993 in 4 urban areas in the United States. Data were collected on multiple variables, including demographic variables, HBsAg test dates and results, prenatal care type, and amount and source of payment. RESULTS: HBsAg prevalence among white non-Hispanics was 0.60% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.98), black non-Hispanics 0.97% (95% CI: 0.48-1.47), Hispanics 0.14% (95% CI: 0.01-0.26), and Asians 5.79% (95% CI: 4.42-7.16). HBsAg testing rates increased from 56.6% in 1990 to 78.2% in 1993. Factors associated with not being tested varied by urban area, but in the combined area model, they were having no or private prenatal care (odds ratios: 18.75 and 5.07, respectively) and being black (odds ratios: 2.08). Only 20.9% (95% CI: 19.1%-22.8%) of those not tested prenatally were tested at delivery. The expected number of infants born to HBsAg-positive study-area women was 3327 using study prevalence rates, compared with 1761 using national rates. CONCLUSIONS: To help ensure that all urban infants who are born to HBsAg-positive women receive appropriate prophylaxis, health officials in urban areas should use urban-area prevalence rates to ascertain completeness of reporting maternal HBsAg positivity. Needed steps to increase maternal HBsAg testing rates include ensuring that more pregnant women receive prenatal care, promoting testing by private providers, educating providers about testing in all racial and ethnic groups, and reminding providers to test at delivery those women not tested prenatally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To examine demographics and beliefs about influenza disease and vaccine that may be associated with influenza vaccination among 50- to 64-year-olds. METHODS: A national sample of adults aged 50-64 years surveyed by telephone. RESULTS: Variables associated with receiving influenza vaccination included age, education level, recent doctor visit, and beliefs about vaccine effectiveness and vaccine safety. Beliefs about influenza vaccination varied by race/ethnicity, age, education, and gender. CONCLUSION: The finding of demographic differences in beliefs suggests that segmented communication messages designed for specific demographic subgroups may help to increase influenza vaccination coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the data collected by the ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey during the December 1 to 11, 2004 period in the U.S. Questions on influenza vaccination coverage included in the survey; Priority groups for influenza vaccination; Percentages of persons reporting that they obtained an influenza vaccination during September 1 to November 30, 2004; Number of unvaccinated child aged 6-23 months who reported that the vaccine was not needed.

This article presents news from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This report examines influenza vaccination coverage in asthmatic children in the U.S. during the 2004-2005 flu season. Nearly 7 million American children under 18 years suffer from asthma putting them at a higher risk for complications from the flu. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that all children with asthma over the age of 6 months get a flu shot each season. This study found that the vaccination rate was low and says the finding underscores the need to increase coverage by identifying and overcoming barriers to vaccination.