Talking About Vaccinations
Cancer used to be said in a hushed voice, as many thought it was a death sentence. While this has begun to change, few want to talk about it, especially with students. Yet, educators can help parents because they are one of the key sources of information. And you might get asked about it. This blog contains two articles from Healthier Generations to help you understand why there is a push to increase the number of children who receive the HPV vaccine. The first one is a brief overview of HPV.
So what do we know? We know that the vaccine has been used for over 15 years and has been found to be safe and effective with over 135 million doses administered. It prevents many common forms of cancer that can occur over the lifetime of one of your current students.
So how would you talk about it? After all, as an educator you aren’t a medical professional. At one level, you can direct a student or parent to a school nurse. On another, you can direct them to the CDC, state health agency, their local pharmacist or their own doctor. You could also provide information based on these Healthier Generation materials. Also, when challenged about the risk of any vaccination, I encourage people to ask a lot of questions of the medical profession with the admonition to listen to the answers.
Another note, some parents have difficulty finding the time or the money to get their children to annual checkups. They are also concerned about side-effects that might cause them to have to stay at home and lose time at work (and with it the money to buy food or other necessities). You should know that most routine vaccinations have sore arms as their main side effect. And, the federal government provides funds for states to make sure that every child who needs a vaccination can get it for free. Plus, many can be administered by the neighborhood pharmacist. This information can help a parent or caregiver make their own decisions.
-Richard Long, executive director of the Learning First Alliance
What Caregivers Need to Know About the HPV Vaccine
[Editor’s note: The following Q&A was originally published on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Blog.]
Every year, an estimated 36,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with a cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine is the most effective way to prevent infections that can lead to these cancers later in life, especially if administered in childhood.
In light of the enactment of the Cancer Prevention Act, which requires California schools to notify families of 6th graders about HPV vaccination recommendations, Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Dr. Jessica Reggi is here to answer common questions about the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine.
Q: What is HPV?
Dr. Reggi: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin sexual contact. HPV infection can lead to genital warts, genital cancers, and mouth or throat cancers in all genders. It’s possible to get HPV through sexual contact with anyone who has the virus, even if they don’t have obvious signs or symptoms.
Q: How common are HPV infections?
Dr. Reggi: HPV infections are very common; the CDC states that nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. There are multiple strains (or types) of the HPV virus: some go away on their own and others stay in the body longer and can lead to cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against these cancer-causing strains of the virus.
Q: At what age should people receive the HPV vaccine?
Dr. Reggi: The CDC recommends that children receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. The HPV vaccine series typically begins when children visit their medical provider (for a well child visit or school physical) prior to entering 7th grade.
However, the vaccine has been approved for use as early as age 9 and as late as age 45. For those under 15, the vaccine consists of two shots, given 6 to 12 months apart. If the HPV vaccine series is started at age 15 or older, three doses are necessary.
Review our Vaccine Checklist for Parents or use this CDC tool to see if your child is up to date on routine childhood vaccinations, including the HPV vaccine series.
Q: How can getting children vaccinated help prevent cancer?
Dr. Reggi: According to the CDC, infections with the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV and genital warts have dropped 88% among teenage girls since the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006.
Like other childhood vaccines that protect against life-threatening diseases, such as tetanus or meningitis, children should be vaccinated against HPV before they are exposed to the virus. Because it takes 2-3 doses administered over 6 to 12 months to achieve full protection, it’s best to begin the vaccine series well before there is risk of infection. And younger tweens and teens produce more antibodies in response to the HPV vaccine than older teens do, making it more effective to get vaccinated at the recommended ages of 11 or 12.
Watch this brief video from the American Academy of Pediatrics to learn more.
Q: Is the HPV vaccine safe and effective?
Dr. Reggi: The CDC states that HPV vaccination provides safe, effective, and long-lasting protection. This is based on more than 15 years of data. The HPV vaccine does not cause HPV infection or cancer and does not cause infertility. Multiple studies have also found no increase in unsafe sex behaviors among teens who had received the HPV vaccine.
Q: Why should all youth receive the HPV vaccine?
Dr. Reggi: The HPV vaccine is essential cancer prevention for everyone. HPV infection can lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, and sex organs, so it is important that all genders get vaccinated.
As parents and caregivers, the health and safety of our children is of the utmost importance. The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect our children from cancer-causing infections. I have two daughters and they will both be getting vaccinated at the recommended age!
Q: Where can we learn more about the HPV vaccine?
Dr. Reggi: Use this interactive tool to learn more about HPV and the HPV vaccine series, and discuss any questions or concerns with your child’s medical provider. I would also encourage you to read one mother’s story about cervical cancer.
Thank you, Dr. Reggi! Learn more about childhood vaccinations and find resources for families at Healthier Generation’s Vaccine Resource Hub
-By Nicole Blanton, manager of culturally responsive communications at Healthier Generation
The Cancer Prevention Act: What Schools and Families Need to Know
Effective January 1, 2024, the Cancer Prevention Act requires California schools to notify families of 6th graders about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination recommendations, in accordance with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In light of the law’s enactment, Dr. Jessica Reggi, a board-certified pediatrician with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is answering some common questions to help schools meet the new requirements.
What is the purpose of the Cancer Prevention Act?
Dr. Reggi: The Cancer Prevention Act provides parents and caregivers with the information they need to keep their children healthy and safe. This law engages California schools in addressing health inequities by providing accurate and impactful vaccine education to all families of sixth graders, regardless of a family’s access to a medical provider or medical home.
Q: Why is it important for students to receive the HPV vaccination?
Dr. Reggi: The HPV vaccination prevents genital cancer and mouth/throat (oropharyngeal) cancers caused by HPV infection. It’s particularly important for students to begin the two-dose* HPV vaccination series at the recommended age (11-12 years old) for two reasons: A child should be vaccinated against a virus or bacteria before they are exposed to it. Additionally, younger teens produce more antibodies from the vaccine than older teens. For both reasons, sharing this information with families of 6th graders is key to maximizing the potential for cancer prevention.
*If the vaccination series is initiated at 15 years of age or older, 3 doses are necessary. The HPV vaccine can be given as young as 9 years of age.
Q: What should parents and caregivers expect as this law is implemented?
Dr. Reggi: This law encourages both caregivers and students to advocate for their health and wellbeing. Families should view this law as an invitation to ask questions, address their concerns, and feel comfortable in getting their child vaccinated to prevent HPV-related cancers.
At their child’s school physical appointment or regular check-up, parents should expect their medical provider to recommend HPV vaccination along with other childhood vaccinations such as the tetanus diphtheria pertussis (Tdap) and meningitis vaccines. This Vaccine Checklist for Parents provides an overview of recommended vaccines by age.
Families without a regular medical provider should also feel supported to reach out to their school nurse or other school staff for support in finding a medical provider that can vaccinate their child.
Q: Are there resources for schools to support compliance with the law?
Dr. Reggi: The California Department of Public Health has created a template letter and robocall script to help schools meet the law’s requirements. Schools can also access credible information about HPV and the HPV vaccine from the CDC, AAP, and Vaccinate Your Family.
Schools should also be prepared to assist families in finding medical providers that can provide vaccinations — for instance, by developing and sharing a Health Services Resource Map.
Drawing on research about chronic absenteeism, experts advise schools to “focus on empathy, how the school can help families, and what specific things families can do. Avoid focusing on punitive messages that leave parents feeling blamed.”
Q: How can parents and caregivers learn more about the HPV vaccine?
Dr. Reggi: Schools can refer families to their pediatrician or regular medical provider, school nurse, or school health services staff to get their questions about vaccines answered. Other resources include the AAP Parenting website and Healthier Generation’s Q&A: What Caregivers Need to Know About the HPV Vaccine.
Learn more about childhood vaccinations and find resources for families at Healthier Generation’s Vaccine Resource Hub.