What is already known about this topic? Although more common among adults, severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization occur among adolescents.

What is added by this report? As of July 31, 2021, coverage with ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine among adolescents aged 12–17 years was 42%, and 32% had completed the series. Series completion rates varied widely by state, ranging from 11% to 60%, and was 25% for adolescents aged 12–13 years, 30% for those aged 14–15 years, and 40% for those aged 16–17 years.

What are the implications for public health practice? Improving adolescent COVID-19 vaccination coverage is crucial to reduce COVID-19–associated morbidity and Mortality among adolescents and can help facilitate safer reopening of schools for in-person learning.

Although severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization are more common among adults, these outcomes can occur in adolescents (1). Nearly one third of adolescents aged 12–17 years hospitalized with COVID-19 during March 2020–April 2021 required intensive care, and 5% of those hospitalized required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (2). On December 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for adolescents aged 16–17 years; on May 10, 2021, the EUA was expanded to include adolescents aged 12–15 years; and on August 23, 2021, FDA granted approval of the vaccine for persons aged ≥16 years. To assess progress in adolescent COVID-19 vaccination in the United States, CDC assessed coverage with ≥1 dose* and completion of the 2-dose vaccination series† among adolescents aged 12–17 years using vaccine administration data for 49 U.S. states (all except Idaho) and the District of Columbia (DC) during December 14, 2020–July 31, 2021. As of July 31, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents aged 12–17 years was 42.4% for ≥1 dose and 31.9% for series completion. Vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose varied by state (range = 20.2% [Mississippi] to 70.1% [Vermont]) and for series completion (range = 10.7% [Mississippi] to 60.3% [Vermont]). By age group, 36.0%, 40.9%, and 50.6% of adolescents aged 12–13, 14–15, and 16–17 years, respectively, received ≥1 dose; 25.4%, 30.5%, and 40.3%, respectively, completed the vaccine series. Improving vaccination coverage and implementing COVID-19 Prevention strategies are crucial to reduce COVID-19–associated morbidity and Mortality among adolescents and to facilitate safer reopening of schools for in-person learning.

Data on COVID-19 vaccine administration in the United States are reported to CDC by jurisdictions, pharmacies, and federal entities through immunization information systems (IISs),§ the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS),¶ or direct data submission.** Adolescents aged 12–17 years with valid residence in one of 49 states or DC who received ≥1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during December 14, 2020–July 31, 2021, and whose data were reported to CDC by August 11, 2021, were included in this Analysis.†† COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to persons residing in Idaho were excluded because the state has data-sharing restrictions on information reported to CDC.

Suggested citation for this article: Murthy BP, Zell E, Saelee R, et al. COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years — United States, December 14, 2020–July 31, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 27 August 2021.

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