If you knew there was a vaccine that reduced your risk of getting cancer, would you ask your doctor for it?
For most people, this decision is a no-brainer. Yet, in the United States, only one-third of teenage girls are fully vaccinated with immunizations that significantly reduce the risk of Types 16 and 18 of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, compared to 80 percent in some European and African countries.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and the major cause of cervical cancer in women. Most sexually active men and women will get HPV at some point in their lives. Most infections go undetected because there are often no symptoms. While there are hundreds of HPV types, HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for the 70% of all cervical cancer and close to half of vaginal, vulvar, penile, throat and most cases of anal cancer.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Latina and black women have higher rates of HPV-associated cervical cancer than white women, and Latino men have higher rates of HPV-associated penile cancer than other men.

The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health has found that Latina women were more likely than other women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at an advanced stage, largely because of the lack of access to resources and education on the importance of pap smears and their link to early detection of pre-cancerous cells. This information gap is often a result of poverty, language barriers and cultural stigma around discussing issues of sex and sexuality in the Latino community.

Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas brought HPV to the limelight when he seemed to suggest that the type of throat cancer he suffered from was “caused by a type of HPV”. Despite this recent attention HPV still remains a mystery for many.

The good news is that HPV is very preventable through proper vaccination. A CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) study shows that since the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006, HPV infections in girls and young women have dropped by more than half. The CDC recommends that both girls and boys ages 11-12 should begin routine HPV vaccination. The medical community including the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees with this recommendation. . Routine vaccination is a series of three shots over the course of six months.

Controversy about the HPV vaccine creates a barrier to good immunization and conversation on the topic and contributes to low vaccination rates. Research shows that early vaccination does not promote sexual activity.

“With August being National Immunization Awareness Month, it is a good opportunity to break the ice about HPV and the HPV vaccine,” says Angela Reed-Smith, senior vice president of patient services at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest.

“Contracting HPV is actually very common for sexually active adults. Even if you have just one partner or have one sexual experience with one partner, it is still possible to get HPV,” says Reed-Smith. “We need to normalize the HPV vaccine, so people can protect themselves against possible infections.”

The HPV vaccines are available through Planned Parenthood health centers and other medical facilities in San Diego.
While the majority of patients at Planned Parenthood centers are 18 years and older, The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, available at certain community health clinics, helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise have access to vaccines.

Women and men ages 19 and 20 are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage of all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For other uninsured, low-income eligible adults, Planned Parenthood participates in the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program that provides the HPV vaccine at no cost.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, in the near future, most private health insurance plans must cover the HPV vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost, meaning no co-pay or deductible. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov/what-are-my-preventive-care-benefits/#part=3 for more information.

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 12,000 new cases and more than 4,000 deaths from cervical cancer will occur in the U.S. in 2013. CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden emphasized that low vaccination rates mean that 50,000 girls alive today will, during their lifetime, develop cervical cancer that could have been prevented.

Across the nation, in 2010 Planned Parenthood health centers provided 770,000 Pap tests (20,000 in our region in 2012) and more than 34,000 HPV vaccinations. In 2012, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest provided 20,000 pap tests and 3,400 HPV vaccines. Many visit Planned Parenthood health centers for cancer screening and prevention and also obtain contraceptive care and STD testing and treatment during their visit, which account for 95 percent of services provided to patients in our region in 2012.

Visit http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/hpv-vaccine-19345.htm for more info.