Adolescent Primary Care Utilization Following Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Through Medical-Dental Integration.

Purpose:To compare primary care utilization before and after human papillomavirus vaccination delivered through a medical-dental integration (MDI) program. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 9 to 17 years who had at least 1 dental visit and were due for HPV vaccination during a 1-year MDI intervention in which vaccination was offered at dental appointments and administered by nursing staff. WCV utilization was compared for eligible patients in the year before and the year after the intervention. Results: Among 1,694 eligible adolescents, 375 HPV vaccines were administered. WCV attendance did not differ among this cohort before versus after the intervention or between those who received an HPV vaccine and those who declined. Conclusion: Human papillomavirus vaccination coordinated during dental visits was not associated with a decrease in primary care utilization, supporting medical-dental integration as a strategy to improve vaccination access without compromising preventive care.