Adolescent vaccination in Italy: bridging policy, clinical practice and public engagement to improve coverage

Adolescence represents a pivotal phase for immunization, yet vaccine coverage in this population remains suboptimal across Italy, particularly against human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal B (MenB), causing a high morbidity associated with HPV-related cancers and MenB-related invasive disease, respectively. Despite inclusion in national immunization strate-gies, wide regional disparities persist, partly driven by the fact that MenB vaccination is included in the National Vaccination Prevention Plan (PNPV) for infancy but not for adolescence, leav-ing its adolescent implementation to regional policies. Moreover, adolescents’ transitional care phase, psychological perceptions of invulnerability, and structural barriers contribute to delayed or missed vaccinations. Drawing on recent epidemiological data, the paper examines the epidemiological, institutional, and sociobe-havioral factors influencing uptake of key adolescent vaccines and highlights the clinical and public health urgency of strength-ening the inclusion of adolescent vaccines within national and regional immunization plans, as a prerequisite for improving HPV and MenB vaccination coverage. Current strategies, including the 2023–2025 National Vaccination Prevention Plan (PNPV), the “Calendar for Life” and regional best practices emphasize the need for harmonized national poli-cies. Future directions include, among others, integrating MenB into the adolescent PNPV, enhancing vaccine delivery through settings – such as schools and sports medicine programs –, and adopting behavioral science frameworks, including the 5C model, to address vaccine hesitancy. Nationally coordinated communication campaigns and digital registry systems are critical to ensuring equitable, timely, and comprehensive adolescent immunization.