January Is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
ACOG Immunization Newsletter
Please take some time this month to consider how you can take steps to educate your patients about gynecologic cancers, spread awareness among your patients and colleagues, and help reduce the risk of gynecologic cancers.
On January 21, 2021, ACOG, alongside organizations representing a full range of practice areas that care for patients across the life span, released a joint statement on the elimination of HPV urging health care professionals to strongly recommend HPV vaccination to eligible patients and stress the benefits and safety of the HPV vaccine. According to Journal of the National Cancer Institute research, more than 35,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers are recorded in the United States each year—and the majority of them can be prevented. About 91% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection, further highlighting the critical importance of HPV screening and vaccination.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and ACOG recommend routine HPV vaccination for children at the target age of 11–12 years as part of the adolescent immunization platform to reduce the incidence of anogenital cancer and genital warts associated with HPV infection. For some women ages 27–45 who are previously unvaccinated, obstetrician–gynecologists and other health care professionals may use shared clinical decision making regarding HPV vaccination, considering the patient’s risk for acquisition of a new HPV infection and whether the HPV vaccine may be beneficial.
Resources for Clinicians:
Resources for Patients:
