Twenty years ago, the HPV vaccine was approved in the United States. It is one of the most powerful cancer prevention tools ever developed, protecting against 90% of HPV-related cancers, with a safety record spanning more than 500 million doses worldwide. And yet today, only about 63% of eligible adolescents in the US are fully vaccinated.
In this special anniversary episode, six voices from across the HPV prevention landscape share what 20 years of this vaccine has taught us, and what still needs to happen.
Dr. Heather Brandt, Senior Director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, explains what HPV is, how the vaccine works, what the science says about safety and efficacy, and how to address the most persistent myths, including the infertility myth, the promiscuity myth, and the "it's too new" myth.
Antoinette Barrett, Nurse Practitioner with Cedars-Sinai's COACH for Kids mobile health program, shares 30 years of frontline experience vaccinating underserved children in Los Angeles, and how the conversation around HPV vaccination has shifted over two decades.
Cynthia Au and Catherine Peters of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network discuss the policy landscape, including Guam's new school entry requirement, what states with mandates have achieved, and the full range of levers available to close the vaccination gap.
Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, offers a candid reflection on where the HPV vaccine recommendation worked, what works to drive uptake, and what vaccine advocates need to do differently in an era of growing anti-vaccine sentiment.
Judy Klein, founder of Unity Consortium, makes the case that framing matters enormously, that calling this a cancer prevention vaccine, not an STI vaccine, is the message that breaks through, and that community-level trust is the most powerful lever we haven't fully used.
Episode Resources:
20 years of HPV vaccination in the U.S. - Join us on Friday, June 12 from 12-1 pm Central Time
History Of HPV Vaccination - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Prevent 6 Cancers with the HPV Vaccine - American Cancer Society
Know Your Vax - Recommended Vaccines Schedule for Adolescents and Young Adults, Unity Consortium
Amanda Kanowitz Foundation
Connect with Dr. Heather M. Brandt:
Heather M. Brandt Faculty Profile
Heather M. Brandt Linkedin
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Website
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital LinkedIn
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Instagram
Connect with Antoinette Barrett:
Antoinette Barrett, RN, CPNP
Cedars-Sinai COACH for Kids
Cedars-Sinai Website
Cedars-Sinai LinkedIn
Cedars-Sinai Instagram
Connect with Cynthia Au:
Cynthia Au LinkedIn
American Cancer Society Website
American Cancer Society LinkedIn
American Cancer Society Instagram
Connect with Catherine Peters:
Catherine Peters LinkedIn
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Website
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) LinkedIn
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Instagram
Hawaii Cancer Action Center
Connect with Dr. Paul Offit:
Dr. Paul Offit Website
Dr. Paul Offit LinkedIn
Dr. Paul Offit - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Website
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia LinkedIn
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Instagram
Connect with Judy Klain:
Judy Klein LinkedIn
Unity Consortium Website
Unity Consortium LinkedIn
Unity Consortium Instagram
Connect with us:
KidsX Website
KidsX LinkedIn
Children's Hospital L.A. Website
Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram
Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn
