January is Awareness month on cervical cancer.
HPV (human papilloma) is very common, so common that we will almost obtain it at some point.
HPV infections often disappear on their own, but the virus can cause some types of cancer.
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Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and the HPV vaccine works very well to prevent infection.
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More than 9 out of 10 cancers caused by HPV with vaccination can be prevented
According to the World Health Organization, 140 countries have made HPV vaccines part of their national immunization programs. And it is working.
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Australia is in the aim of eliminating cervical cancer in 2035, with about 80% of children who receive at least 1 HPV vaccine at 15 years in 2022.
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Scotland has had 0 cases of cervical cancer in women fully vaccinated against HPV at 12 or 13 years since the country’s vaccine program began in 2008.
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Norway had 0 cases of cervical cancer caused by HPV in 25 -year -olds who received the vaccine when they were children.
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A study in Finland found that when 1 in 2 boys, not just girls, were vaccinated, most HPV types that cause cancer were eliminated.
Here in the United States, we still have work to do when it comes to HPV vaccination.
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HPV vaccination rates in the US are lower than in other countries
A little more than 61% of young people from 13 to 17 years in the US.
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Norway 91%
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Iceland 85%
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Sweden 80%
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HPV vaccination rates vary widely according to the state, and are generally lower in rural areas
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Only 39% of adolescents were up to date with the HPV vaccine in Mississippi in 2022, compared to 85% in Rhode Island.
The HPV vaccine prevents cancer
Talk to your medical care provider on how to protect you or your cancer children with the HPV vaccine.
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CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for routine vaccination at 11 or 12 years (but you can start at 9 years).
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CDC also recommend vaccination against HPV for all of the 26 years if they were not vaccinated when they were younger.
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Some adults from 27 to 45 who were not vaccinated when they were younger can decide to vaccinate.
This educational resource was created with Merck’s support.
