The Impact of State Minor Self-Consent for HPV Vaccine Laws on Teen Immunization Rates
Description
Childhood immunization against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in preventing infection, transmission, and subsequent sequalae of HPV. Yet, in 2022, only 76% of teenagers had received one HPV vaccination, and fewer (62.6%) had completed the vaccination series. State legislation surrounding minor self-consent for HPV vaccinations varies widely, but it is unclear if these laws impact HPV vaccine compliance; hence, the purpose of this research was to examine whether adolescents residing in states allowing minor consent for HPV vaccination was associated with a higher likelihood of HPV immunization rates. This study utilized nationally representative, parent-reported survey data from the 2023 National Immunization Survey of Teens. State laws were collaboratively verified, and logistic regression was performed in StataNow to predict having received at least one HPV vaccination based on the presence or absence of a minor consent for HPV vaccination law. Our results indicated that a state-level law permitting minor self-consent for HPV immunizations did not yield significantly higher rates of adolescent HPV immunization. Therefore, we failed to reject the null hypothesis. Consistent with prior research, significant predictors of teenagers having started the HPV vaccination series included attending an 11/12-year-old wellchild visit, being female, and being non-Hispanic white. Consequently, public health efforts advocating for minor self-consent for HPV vaccination laws are unlikely to improve vaccine compliance. Previous work has demonstrated that physician recommendation for HPV vaccines is a strong predictor of adolescent immunization, and thus, targeting increased attendance for 11/12-year-old wellchild visits may be more impactful.
Citation Information
Kuhlmey, Eiley E.; Reimer, Rachel; Semprini, Jason; and Polavarapu, Tanvi, "The Impact of State Minor Self-Consent for HPV Vaccine Laws on Teen Immunization Rates" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 3.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/3
The Impact of State Minor Self-Consent for HPV Vaccine Laws on Teen Immunization Rates
Childhood immunization against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in preventing infection, transmission, and subsequent sequalae of HPV. Yet, in 2022, only 76% of teenagers had received one HPV vaccination, and fewer (62.6%) had completed the vaccination series. State legislation surrounding minor self-consent for HPV vaccinations varies widely, but it is unclear if these laws impact HPV vaccine compliance; hence, the purpose of this research was to examine whether adolescents residing in states allowing minor consent for HPV vaccination was associated with a higher likelihood of HPV immunization rates. This study utilized nationally representative, parent-reported survey data from the 2023 National Immunization Survey of Teens. State laws were collaboratively verified, and logistic regression was performed in StataNow to predict having received at least one HPV vaccination based on the presence or absence of a minor consent for HPV vaccination law. Our results indicated that a state-level law permitting minor self-consent for HPV immunizations did not yield significantly higher rates of adolescent HPV immunization. Therefore, we failed to reject the null hypothesis. Consistent with prior research, significant predictors of teenagers having started the HPV vaccination series included attending an 11/12-year-old wellchild visit, being female, and being non-Hispanic white. Consequently, public health efforts advocating for minor self-consent for HPV vaccination laws are unlikely to improve vaccine compliance. Previous work has demonstrated that physician recommendation for HPV vaccines is a strong predictor of adolescent immunization, and thus, targeting increased attendance for 11/12-year-old wellchild visits may be more impactful.
