COIOS
Behavioural science Item new preprint

Offering HPV vaccine at 9-10 raised series completion by age 13 from 45% to 62%

In a cluster-randomised trial across 31 US paediatric practices, introducing HPV vaccination at ages 9-10 rather than 11-12 brought median series completion forward from 13.3 to 12.2 years and raised completion by age 13 from 45.1% to 61.6%.

This preprint reports a two-arm cluster-randomised trial in 31 paediatric practices in Colorado and California, comparing introduction of HPV vaccination at ages 9-10 with the routine 11-12 years between October 2021 and April 2026. Median age at series completion was 12.2 versus 13.3 years (adjusted HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.94 to 2.89), and completion by age 13 was 61.6% versus 45.1% (RR 1.37). Tdap receipt was higher in the intervention arm, and receipt of both other adolescent vaccines by age 13 did not differ.

Why it is interesting: Randomised evidence that the age at which HPV vaccination is introduced changes series completion by age 13.

Source
medRxiv, 27 September 2026
DOI
10.64898/2026.09.24.26363898
Type
Preprint
Design
Two-arm cluster-randomised trial, 31 paediatric practices in Colorado and California, Oct 2021-Apr 2026
Verdict
New finding
Driver
Changing behaviour at scale
Driver
Cancer
Driver
Infection and pandemics