HPV vaccine program renewed

Eliminating the public health threat of cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) has been a key program of the American Cancer Society. The organization decided to renew their program Mission: HPV Cancer Free with the hope that it could keep HPV vaccination levels on track.

The program’s goal is to reach a vaccination rate of 80% of adolescents aged 13 years receiving it by 2026. A recent report found a 71% drop in the number of health care visits involving patients aged 7 to 17 years.

Roughly 14 million people in the United States are infect by HPV every year and overall 8 in 10 people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. The vaccine performs best when administered to children aged 9 to 12 years. In fact, 2 doses of the vaccine administered at this point of life can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers.

For more on the renewal, check out our sister publication Contemporary Clinic.