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The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine continues to be underutilized in eligible adolescents. Thus, the protective potential against HPV-related cancers in the United States continues to be insufficient. Cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, as well as malignant tumors of the penis, vulva and vagina, according to a new report from the President's Cancer Panel.
"We have a safe and effective vaccine that protects against a carcinogenic virus, and we salute the efforts of the cancer and immunization leaders who are joining forces and taking up the challenge of speeding up the adoption." of HPV vaccine, "said Barbara Rimer, DrPH, President of Cancer & # 39; s President. Panel, said in a statement.
This vaccine remains seriously underused.
"However, the fact remains that this vaccine remains severely underused – we still lack opportunities to prevent cancer and save lives," she added.
The report of the President's Task Force on Cancer was posted online on November 1st.
In a previous report published in 2012-2013, the president's cancer panel called for more widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine among eligible recipients.
Since then, the percentage of teens who began receiving the HPV vaccine series has increased by five percentage points each year.
Nevertheless, in 2017, fewer than half of the eligible adolescents in the United States had been fully immunized against HPV. The level is far from reaching the goal set by Healthy People 2020 to vaccinate 80% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 with the full set of vaccines.
Thus, the group of experts launched a new call for action to amplify and broaden efforts to increase HPV vaccination rates both at home and abroad. in the world.
New call for action
As part of the panel's new call for action, the authors identified four key objectives that they believe could strengthen HPV vaccine utilization rates across the country and beyond.
The first goal is that providers reduce the number of missed opportunities to recommend and administer the vaccine to eligible adolescents.
"Too many teenagers continue to leave their doctor's office without receiving the HPV vaccine, even after receiving the other recommended vaccines," the panel members write.
The panel suggests that, rather than openly addressing the issue, providers assume that parents are willing to vaccinate their children and strongly recommend HPV vaccine for boys and girls in unambiguous language.
Well-formulated statements help reassure parents that HPV vaccination is the social norm and that providers themselves believe in the vaccine, panel members said.
Providers should also target all patients aged 11 and 12, unless there is a good reason not to do so, he adds, because the vaccine is most effective when it is administered before the sexual debut of a child.
In addition, adolescents vaccinated before the age of 15 need only two doses instead of the usual three-dose series.
At the same time, providers may need to convince parents to accept HPV vaccination for their child.
"Parents and legal guardians are the primary decision-makers in adolescent immunization," note the panelists.
"If parents are initially reluctant to vaccinate their children, providers should insist that the HPV vaccine prevents cancer and continue to recommend it, because over time, many parents end up accepting vaccination," indicates the report.
The HPV vaccine is one of the most expensive vaccines currently available in the US, but with private and public funding, the cost is usually covered for eligible recipients.
If this is not the case, there are sponsored patient assistance programs, including one proposed by Merck & Co, manufacturer of the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil).
"Providing and promoting HPV vaccination in schools, pharmacies and other sites in the medical district can be particularly useful in rural areas, where the number of primary care physicians per capita is lower than that of and barriers to access, "suggest the panelists.
The authors also note that the potential impact of HPV vaccination is greater in less developed countries, where rates of cervical cancer are higher.
A number of coordinated initiatives are being called in low- and middle-income countries to make the vaccine more accessible and affordable.
"The progress and momentum gained over the past five years has created an undeniable opportunity to increase the use of HPV vaccine and significantly reduce – or even eliminate – the preventable burden of HPV cancers" , say the panelists.
"All should unhesitatingly gather around the ultimate goal of cancer prevention," they conclude.
The authors did not reveal any relevant financial relationship.
President's Committee on Cancer. HPV vaccination for cancer prevention: progress, opportunities and new call for action. Posted online November 1, 2018. Full text
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