On the Path to Prevention from the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program

We each play a role in ending HPV cancers.

We each play a role in ending HPV cancers. In this month’s Path to Prevention newsletter, you will find many articles about the great work being done to improve HPV vaccination coverage. This comes in spite of the recently estimated nearly 14% decline in HPV vaccinations as of December 2022 with greater deficits among children who are publicly insured and those living in rural counties from Kang et al. published in Preventive Medicine. We know there is more work to be done. We want to make sure no one is left behind in our efforts to prevent HPV cancers.

In case you missed it, the White House released a proclamation on National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. Almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. The President and First Lady are no different. Their enduring commitment to reducing the burden of cancer continues with this proclamation and ongoing dedication to the Biden Cancer Moonshot bring us one step closer to ending cancer as we know it. This month, and always, this means for everyone.

HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

Adolescent Immunization Action Week

Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW) is wrapping up, and the final day is April 5.

AIAW was created to urge healthcare providers, parents, and adolescents to get adolescents up to date on recommended vaccinations. AIAW takes place April 1-5 and provides healthcare providers, parents, and adolescents with information and tools to support this goal. These resources can be used to encourage teens to ask questions and seek out trusted sources, so they can better understand the benefits of vaccination.

This year’s theme for AIAW is to Stay on TASK. Sorting through vast amounts of vaccination information and navigating busy schedules can make staying up to date on recommended vaccinations feel overwhelming. A simple way to overcome these challenges and to keep your adolescent healthy is to stay on TASK.

Access AIAW resources here (password: unity).

National Minority Health Month:

Strengthening Our Commitment to Equity

April marks National Minority Health Month, a time to reflect on the health disparities facing minority communities and recommit to achieving health equity for all. One critical area of concern is the hesitancy among religious minority groups toward HPV vaccination, which poses significant barriers to preventing HPV cancers.

HPV vaccine hesitancy within religious communities often stems from concerns about vaccine ingredients, religious prohibitions during fasting periods, and cultural and religious beliefs. To address this challenge and improve vaccination rates, here are three key recommendations:

Culturally Tailored Education: Develop culturally sensitive educational materials and campaigns that respect the religious beliefs and practices of communities that have been minoritized and marginalized. These materials should address specific concerns related to vaccine ingredients, religious fasting, and religious beliefs, while also highlighting the importance of HPV vaccination for cancer prevention.
Engage Religious Leaders: Partner with religious leaders and institutions to disseminate accurate information about HPV vaccination and address misconceptions within their communities. Religious leaders can play a crucial role in promoting vaccine acceptance and dispelling myths by incorporating vaccine messaging into sermons, community events, and religious education programs.
Community-Led Outreach: Empower community-based organizations and trusted local health workers to conduct outreach and education initiatives within minority communities. By leveraging existing networks and relationships, these grassroots efforts can effectively reach underserved populations, build trust, and address vaccine hesitancy in culturally appropriate ways.

As we observe National Minority Health Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equity in HPV vaccination. By adopting culturally sensitive strategies and engaging minority communities as partners in health promotion, we can work towards achieving optimal vaccination rates and reducing HPV-related health disparities for all.

Coming Soon! New seminar series focused on promoting equity in HPV vaccination coverage.

In addition to the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s commitment to HPV vaccination for specific populations, including people living in rural communities and the Southeast and childhood cancer survivors, we are committed to ensuring HPV vaccination is accessible to all and HPV cancer prevention is for everyone. In May, we will be announcing a new series of virtual seminars focusing on opportunities to improve HPV vaccination coverage for HPV cancer prevention among groups that have been minoritized, marginalized, and disadvantaged. We will share more information in the May newsletter and leading up to each virtual seminar.

Recap of the
International HPV Awareness Day 2024 Virtual Seminar Series

To celebrate the seventh annual International HPV Awareness Day on March 4, 2024, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program presented a series of five virtual seminars featuring experts across the entire landscape of HPV cancer prevention efforts with almost 500 people registered and 200 attending each seminar.

The seminar series kicked off with Aligning Efforts, Amplifying Impact: Boosting HPV Vaccination Rates in the Southeast. Attendees enjoyed presentations on types of interventions likely to boost HPV vaccine uptake, innovative and effective partnerships for increasing HPV vaccination rates in the Southeast, and communication strategies for success.

During the second seminar, Rural Reach: Accelerating HPV Vaccination Coverage, participants learned about implementations science methods and an integrated approach to reduce HPV cancer risk in Appalachia, the Rural Think Tank and priority action steps to accelerate HPV vaccination coverage, as well as provider communication and implementation science methods for increasing HPV vaccination coverage across rural America.

The A-B-Cs of HPV Vaccination in School-Based Settings Easy as 1-2-3 seminar discussed HPV vaccination school policies across the U.S., provided a practical approach to difficult conversations in school-based settings, and explored policies influencing HPV vaccination in school-based settings.

On International HPV Awareness Day, the most attended seminar of the series was Promoting the Power of Elimination through HPV Vaccination: Eliminating Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem. The seminar featured Australian and global perspectives on cervical cancer elimination, promotion efforts in the U.S., and a success story from Alabama – the first state to announce a cervical cancer elimination plan with “Operation Wipe Out.”

The last seminar of the series, Navigating HPV Vaccination Challenges in Childhood Cancer Survivors, hits close to home for us at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Speakers presented on the importance of HPV vaccination for childhood cancer survivors, reasons for refusal, and how to engage young survivors and providers in HPV vaccination programming.

If you were unable to join us live, you can access the recordings and presentation slides here.

Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities: Updates and Opportunities

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program will host its upcoming Preventing HPV Cancers with Rural Communities: Updates and Opportunities quarterly updates meeting on May 22, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. Central Time. The event will showcase a presentation from American Cancer Society (ACS) National HPV Vaccination Roundtable Emerging Leaders Program participants who will share insights and results to improve HPV vaccination rates within rural communities. Additionally, our program will highlight the latest developments surrounding the six priority action steps for improving rural HPV vaccination coverage. Register here to secure your spot and be a part of this discussion.

Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community

The ACS and the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable have teamed up to launch a 10-month Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community, commencing in March. Aimed at addressing rural disparities in HPV vaccination rates, this initiative will utilize quality improvement (QI) methods and evidence-based interventions to bolster vaccine uptake. You can register here for the series.

The inaugural session, "Setting the Stage: Networking & Orientation," was held on March 20 and featured Jennifer Nkonga from ACS and Dr. Jane Montealegre from MD Anderson as the main presenters. Attendees had the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and gleaned insightful information, including the revelation that achieving 90% screening coverage could expedite the time to cervical cancer elimination by 10-13 years. To learn more on this series, please visit the Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community.

Join our efforts to improve rural HPV vaccination coverage.

Visit the Preventing HPV Cancers in Rural Communities website at stjude.org/hpvrural or sign up here to receive the latest information on our rural HPV coverage efforts. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.

Wide Open Spaces:

Supporting HPV Vaccination with Rural Communities

Bridging the Gap in HPV Vaccinations:
Community- driven Strategies in Rural Areas

Over the past five years, Dr. Julie Dang has had the opportunity to engage in dialogue with diverse communities in rural areas within the University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 19-county catchment area exploring factors that influence their HPV vaccination decision-making process. In addition to obtaining community perspectives, Dr. Dang and her team sought to understand barriers and facilitators at the health system and primary care team levels. Through these conversations with parents, caregivers, primary care team members, and clinic leadership, it became apparent that the parents’ HPV vaccination decision-making process was not only influenced by their own personal knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs but was also influenced by interactions with their health care system. Increasing parental knowledge and awareness of HPV vaccination is only half of the equation; Dr. Dang believes we also need to equip the health care centers in these areas with the latest HPV vaccination information and evidence-based strategies to address parental hesitancy.

Read this month’s Wide Open Spaces article here.

HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast

Since the in-person meeting of the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast in January, we have been focusing our attention on implementing three priority action items identified by the Southeast Roundtable members.

Develop and implement a communication campaign and messages for the Southeastern region.
Develop and disseminate a plan for HPV cancer elimination in the Southeast, beginning with cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Accelerate efforts to start HPV vaccination at age 9.

In March, we held the second of three scheduled follow-up meetings, again focused on the priority action items. Each priority action will be led by a St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program team member, and we also need the engagement and participation of Southeast Roundtable members and thought leaders across the region. If you are interested in joining as a primary champion or implementation team member or joining the planning committee and representing your jurisdiction, please email us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.

Register here for the next follow up meeting on April 24 from noon-1 p.m. CT. This meeting will include a quick update on activities of the Southeast Roundtable and breakout room discussions to further discuss the three action items.

Join the Southeast Roundtable

Visit the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast website at stjude.org/southeast-roundtable, sign up here to receive the latest information about the roundtable, and email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.

Cervivor is dedicated to addressing the longstanding disparities that have affected communities of color for decades to narrow the gap. Studies indicate cervical cancer rates have decreased over time in the United States, but all people have not benefitted equally and disparities in healthcare persist. Hispanic women exhibit the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer, followed by non-Hispanic Black women. Moreover, Black women face a higher likelihood of mortality from the disease compared to women of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.

On August 4, 2023, Cervivor invited cervical cancer patients and survivors from across the country to participate in the Cervical Cancer Patient Advocacy Retreat for Communities of Color in Washington, DC.

We are pleased to partner with Cervivor so share personal testimonies from a few of the attendees who describe the progress they have made since their experience at the Communities of Color Retreat.

The 2024 Communities of Color Retreat will take place July 26-July 28. Register here. The application window closes on April 17.

Rosalinda Engle

Rosalinda recently celebrated three years of “no evidence of disease” in December 2023.

“For many of us, conversations easily continued into dinner, late evening, and early morning coffee meetups. We were clearly vibing and opening up to be vulnerable, witnessing and holding space for each other. Native American, African American, Asian, and Latina cervical cancer survivors coming together to listen, share, teach, and support each other was a powerful experience. My heart is filled with gratitude for how effortlessly this all unfolded. My most precious takeaway? Tamika’s loving challenge that following the retreat we step up and use our talents, abilities, gifts, and unique perspectives to do something small or big, to end cervical cancer.

Gwendolyn Jackson

Gwendolyn is currently undergoing treatment as a stage IV cervical cancer patient.

“The Community of Color Retreat had a great impact on my life, and I have not been the same since. The moment I arrived at the retreat, I noticed everything was planned with so much love and hope and personalized for us as a collective but also individually as well. We cried, laughed, learned, inspired each other, listened, and gained confidence and knowledge to advocate for ourselves and others as well – within our families, jobs, and communities.”

Dielda Robertson

Vaccine Equity Program Manager

Louisiana Department of Health

The Louisiana Office of Public Health Immunization Program is dedicated to reducing vaccine-preventable diseases by promoting infant, childhood, and adult immunizations. To achieve this, there is a strong focus on addressing health disparities, dispelling stigmas, and correcting any misinformation that might exist within all of Louisiana's communities.

The Immunization Program coordinates a variety of both statewide and regional initiatives. These efforts, geared toward strengthening our communities through immunizations, include Engaging with Providers, Vaccines for Children (Shots for Tots), vaccine distribution, mobilizing vaccination teams, data and statistics, and vaccine preventable disease surveillance. Combined, these initiatives limit the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases, including all childhood illnesses, emerging diseases such as COVID-19 and mpox, and adult illnesses.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program is proud of the continuous collaborative efforts with the Louisiana Department of Public Health to educate parents and caregivers about the benefits of HPV vaccination.

“The HPV vaccine provides great protection from several HPV-related cancers and is most effective given at the recommended ages of 9 and 12,” states Dielda Robertson. “Trust in the science of the HPV vaccine and other vaccines. They are constantly monitored and tested for their safety and effectiveness”.

Alabama

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The observance promotes awareness of ways to prevent oral cancer by making oral cancer screening part of the dental exam routine. According to the CDC, many people are exposed to oral HPV in their lives. About 10% of men and 3.6 % of women have oral HPV. This is more common with older age.

In observance of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, representatives of the Alabama Department of Public Health, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, and VAX 2 Stop Cancer joined Gov. Kay Ivey who signed a proclamation declaring April as Oral Cancer Awareness Month in Alabama.

VAX 2 Stop Cancer CEO and Founder Barbara Schuler highlights how the proclamation aligns with the organizational Dental Provider Education program. The online training includes best practices for an effective HPV vaccine recommendation starting at age 9 to raise HPV vaccination rates.

Dr. Casey Daniel states: “This proclamation is extremely valuable in achieving our ultimate goal of preventing HPV-related cancers by raising awareness in an official way and promoting prevention. Having support from the state in this way illustrates that Alabama is dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of its citizens, taking measures to prevent cancer when possible. Seeing such a multilevel, interdisciplinary effort come together like this to promote HPV-related cancers”.

State Dental Director, Tommy Johnson, Office of Oral Health Interim states: “Dentists are the front line of defense for oral health when it comes to the diagnosis and treatments of oral cancers and they bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry, whereas if I recommend the HPV vaccine to a patient, not only does it target oral cancer but it also can protect against the other five types of HPV-related cancers."

Mississippi

Mississippi HPV Roundtable Advances Efforts to Combat Cervical Cancer

The most recent Mississippi HPV Roundtable convened on March 5. Roundtable partners from the Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (MCCCP) unveiled plans aimed at bolstering HPV vaccination rates across the state.

One of the primary objectives outlined was the push to encourage 81 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Mississippi to adopt and implement the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Declination form. This form allows parents to decline recommended vaccines, including HPV vaccination. To streamline vaccination efforts, the MCCCP intends to integrate HPV vaccinations into school-based forms provided by FQHCs, enabling the administration of vaccines within school settings. While the declination form is not yet available on the MSDH website, webinars and resources are in the pipeline to facilitate its adoption.

MCCCP also disclosed plans to develop and distribute HPV educational materials targeting parents, particularly in non-traditional settings. Additionally, efforts will be made to provide training for community health workers (CHWs) and clinic staff through platforms like ECHO and webinars.

For further information and resources on HPV, individuals are directed to visit the Mississippi State Department of Health's website and access relevant webinars, including the recent Cervical Cancer Awareness Webinar conducted in January.

Mississippi Virtual HPV Annual Summit is on May 7

The Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Mississippi HPV Roundtable, and the American Cancer Society are joining forces to host a one-day Virtual HPV Summit on May 7. This event offers healthcare professionals an opportunity to earn up to 2.0 continuing medical education credits and is open for free registration.

The summit aims to shed light on crucial topics surrounding HPV, with sessions covering an overview of HPV in Mississippi, strategies to tackle HPV vaccination barriers in the state, and insights into initiatives aimed at increasing HPV vaccination rates across the state.

Don't miss this chance to engage with experts, share experiences, and contribute to efforts aimed at combating HPV-related challenges in Mississippi.

Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee

Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable Mid-Year Meeting-March 19, 2024

The Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable hosted its in-person, mid-year meeting on March 19 with over 40 attendees from the local community, including clinicians and HPV community partners. The Roundtable members received an updated progress report that highlighted member growth to 132 members representing 34 organizations. Additionally, 14 local pediatric practices were shown to have a 60% or higher HPV vaccination completion rate at the end of 2023.

Presenters discussed HPV vaccination in Shelby County and across Tennessee. Alexandria Hayes from the Tennessee Department of Health reviewed a VFC reminder/recall campaign reaching over 200,000 individuals who either have not started or completed the HPV vaccine series, beginning at age 9. Brianna White introduced the TweenVax P3 Model for improving HPV vaccination among 9–12-year-olds. Lastly, Dr. Michelle Bowden outlined local HPV-related cancer burden, vaccine statistics, Roundtable initiatives, and future directions for enhancing HPV vaccine knowledge.

At the meeting, participants discussed strategies to drive the Roundtable’s four priority initiatives for 2024: engagement and membership, communication, data, and provider education. Attendees also selected priority areas to help drive forward through the end of the year. An updated priorities document will be distributed to all members.

For more information about the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable, please visit our webpage at stjude.org/memphis-roundtable.

Black Cervix Chat

Black Cervix Chat provided an empowering space for Black women to openly discuss cervical health, dispel myths, and share experiences related to cervical cancer on February 24. The event featured two expert insights on screening and vaccination and aimed to address disparities in health care access and outcomes within the Black community. By cultivating dialogue and providing resources, Cervivor aimed to empower Black women to take charge of their cervical health, and their families’ ability to prevent cancer, as well as advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. Watch the recording here.

Cervical Cancer Patient Advocacy Retreat for Communities of Color

Join the Cervivor team for a transformative experience at the Cervical Cancer Patient Advocacy Retreat for Communities of Color. This unique retreat offers a supportive environment for individuals from diverse backgrounds to come together, share their stories, and learn about cervical cancer advocacy. This retreat will be July 26-28. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in cervical cancer awareness and advocacy.

Apply now and be part of this empowering journey. The application window closes on April 17. Register here.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has an exciting opportunity to expand our team. We will hire an individual who understands and shares our objectives and impetus to improve HPV vaccination uptake in the St. Jude area and beyond.

Program Coordinator- HPV Cancer Prevention Program
We are looking for exceptional listeners, communicators and teammates with a passion to lead and serve others. Ideal candidates will be able to identify, establish and sustain community partnerships and cultivate a workplace culture of uninhibited idea generation, collaboration and problem-solving. There will be ample opportunities for professional development and growth. Click here to apply.

“I’m excited to start biking to work again. I find the light exercise and fresh morning air quite enjoyable.” – Cristóbal Valdebenito, program coordinator

“I am looking forward to running outside in the spring sunshine and warmer weather!” – Kasia Mitchell, program coordinator

“I look forward to enjoying the beautiful weather, family time, and working in my flower bed.” – Portia Knowlton, program coordinator

“Spring is my favorite season, it's not too hot or cold. I just enjoy taking my kids to the park after school.” – Karlisa Cryer, medical content writer

“Daylight savings is what I love most of the spring season. “– Ursula Leflore, administrative specialist

“I look forward to more sunny days and being outdoors!” – Duha Magzoub, program coordinator

“I love going to the park with my toddler.” – Pragya Gautam Poudel, postdoctoral fellow

“I look forward to the sunny mild weather days of spring.” – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director

“I really enjoy being outside, walking, running, or just getting fresh air. This spring I look forward to introducing my baby boy to outside activities.” - Julia Brown, program manager

“I am ready for warmer weather, which means more time spent outside. “– Dr. Heather Brandt, director