Protecting Kids from HPV-related Cancers

Protecting Kids from HPV-related Cancers

Protect your kids from human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer and other diseases associated with HPV by giving them the complete 3 shots of HPV vaccine.

No matter how busy parents are, they should take the time to get their children the life-saving HPV vaccine to protect them against HPV-related cancers. Every year in the United States, about 18,000 HPV-associated cancers occur in women and cervical cancer is the most common; and about 7,000 HPV-associated cancers occur each year in men and oropharyngeal cancers are the most common. Anal cancer caused by HPV affects both men and women, with more women than men diagnosed each year. If we protect our children now, we could reduce disease and cancer due to HPV.

What is HPV vaccine?

This is a safe and effective vaccine given in a series of 3 shots over about a six-month period. The second shot is given 1 or 2 months after the first, and the third shot is given 6 months after the first shot. It is very important to complete all of the shots to be fully protected. More than 40 million doses of HPV vaccine have been safely given across the country.

How old should children be to get HPV vaccine?

If your son or daughter is 11 or 12 years old, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) recommend you vaccinate now to protect him or her against HPV-related cancer.  If they are older than 11 or 12 and has not started these shots, it's not yet too late to schedule an appointment to begin the series.

How can I learn more about HPV and HPV vaccine?

About 20 million people, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV, the type of virus that causes cervical cancer. That's why it's important to protect preteen and teen boys and girls early through vaccination. To learn more about HPV vaccine, visit HPV Vaccine for Preteens and Teens.  Further, to be informed about who should and should not get this vaccine, when they should be vaccinated, and the risks and benefits of this vaccine, consult the two HPV vaccine information statements.

Families who need help paying for vaccines should ask their health care provider about Vaccines for Children (VFC). The VFC program provides vaccines at no cost to uninsured and underinsured children younger than 19 years. For help in finding a local health care provider who participates in the program, parents can call 800-CDC-INFO or go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Posted by George Daniels on Monday February 13 2012, 9:46 AM EST. Ref: CDC. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0