Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH

Vaccination rates in adults are lower than those in children, but the consequences of lack of immunization in adults are just as significant. Barriers to adult immunization include patients’ lack of knowledge or misconceptions about vaccines and health care providers’ failure to recommend vaccination.1

During the past few years, several vaccines have been added to the adult immunization schedule. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for girls and women aged 11 to 26 years (minimum age, 9 years) to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous or dysplastic lesions, and genital lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.