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

Anytime is a good time to focus attention on vaccinations, especially during the back-to-school season and National Immunization Awareness Month. I recently had the opportunity to participate in more than 30 TV and radio interviews to discuss the importance of on-time HPV vaccination for school-aged children. These interviews reached parents and families in markets across the U.S. We know there is a lot of interest in promoting routinely recommended vaccinations, including HPV vaccination, to ensure all children are protected today from HPV cancers they may develop as adults. With all of you, we are making a difference through awareness-raising efforts that build confidence in HPV vaccination and normalize HPV vaccination as cancer prevention.

Perhaps you saw the recent news about the family of Henrietta Lacks finally receiving a settlement for the use of her cells (HeLa cells) without her consent. The news came on what would have been Mrs. Lacks’s 103rd birthday on August 1. It also was fitting – and long overdue – credit to Mrs. Lacks and her family on the first day of National Immunization Awareness Month. The use of her cells resulted in many scientific discoveries, including polio and COVID-19 vaccines as well as the link between HPV and cervical cancer.

As always, we have a lot of information to share with you in our monthly newsletter. If you have something to share, reach out to us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.

HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for all people of all ages. Vaccines help the body create protective antibodies that help it fight off infections. Not only does getting vaccinated protect an individual, but it also helps to avoid spreading diseases to loved ones and people within the community. The HPV vaccine prevents both the HPV virus and HPV cancers. Therefore, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program promotes on-time vaccination for 9-to-12-year-olds to ensure a lifetime of protection against six types of cancers: cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and oral/throat.

There was a decline in routine immunizations for children and adults due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and health care providers are still playing catchup to get patients back on schedule. As the summer ends, parents prepare their children to return to school. This is a perfect time for school supply shopping and a great time for a routine vaccine visit to get back on schedule. Learn more here.

Students will return to school this month in some parts of the United States. There is still time before those school bells ring to ensure students are up to date on recommended vaccinations. The resources below can help vaccine decision makers see the importance of getting their children vaccinated.

National HPV Vaccination Roundtable Toolkit

Did you know starting HPV vaccination at age 9 helps ensure more children are protected against HPV cancers in adulthood? Check out a collection of articles that expands on research showing that initiating the HPV vaccination series at age 9 improves vaccination use and increases the number of adolescents who complete their series on time compared to starting at ages 11–12. The National HPV Vaccination Roundtable also has several resources available to support starting HPV vaccination at age 9.

American Cancer Society: HPV Vaccination Summer Toolkit

Recently, the American Cancer Society launched its highly anticipated “HPV Vaccination Summer Toolkit,” designed to empower partners during summer and back-to-school HPV vaccination efforts. The newly updated toolkit has refreshed branding, photos, and copy.

Updated features of the 2023 HPV Vaccination Back to School Social Media Toolkit
include:

Captivating visuals: Updated photos with a diverse representation of children and an option for demographic selection on a post.
Engaging copy: pre-written social media posts accompanied by compelling captions that nudge the audience to act.
Co-branding option: If your organization has an active co-branding agreement on file with the ACS, there is a co-branding opportunity for the campaign.

For more information, contact: Melissa Santiago melissa.santiago@cancer.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Back-to-School Campaign

The CDC recently launched a nationwide “back-to-school” campaign with digital ads from July through September 2023. The digital ads aim to keep routine child vaccinations top of mind among parents of school-aged children. All communication resources, such as flyers and social media posts, are downloadable and adaptable should partners want to disseminate them directly through your websites, offices, and social media channels. For additional information or to access and utilize these resources, visit Back to School with Routine Vaccines.

In a recent article published in the Huff Post, Heather Brandt, PhD, director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, discussed the importance of HPV vaccination by helping to answer a very important question: When is it considered too late to get the HPV vaccine?

What we know is that the HPV vaccine is a highly effective cancer prevention tool when administered “on-time.” “On-time” means before a child’s 13th birthday when the child is unlikely to have been exposed to the virus.

“HPV vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies,” explains Brandt. “These antibodies, in future encounters with HPV, protect someone from becoming infected.”

HPV vaccination is routinely recommended for everyone between the ages of 9 and 26. The focus on on-time HPV vaccination by the 13th birthday is because it is the most effective before this age. However, if someone misses out on on-time HPV vaccination, people aged 13 to 26 should get vaccinated. There may also be benefits for some people aged 26 to 45 years. Those in this age range should talk with their health care provider to decide based on individual factors.

Recognizing the increasing threat to vaccine confidence, Unity® Consortium has launched Pursuit of the 3Cs: Confident, Concise and Consistent Health Care Provider Recommendations for Adolescent Vaccinations to help health care providers deliver strong recommendations for all CDC/ACIP-recommended vaccines for adolescents and young adults.

This self-guided educational program utilizes video vignettes of health care providers responding to common questions from parents about whether their adolescent or young adult should receive recommended vaccines. The videos demonstrate how providers can use simple motivational interviewing (MI) and shared clinical decision-making strategies to address concerns and move adolescents and parents to be confident in agreeing to vaccination.

Registration is required for this free program. The 3Cs program also includes a Q&A-style resource guide providing sample recommendations by age and answers to questions commonly asked by parents about adolescent vaccines in both English and Spanish.

The 3Cs program is appropriate for the continuing education of individuals and teams of health care providers and may be used in quality improvement interventions to improve vaccination rates. Continuing Education credit is also available through the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Pursuit of the 3Cs: Confident, Concise, and Consistent Provider Recommendations for Adolescent Vaccines video series is funded by Unity’s member organizations and was updated with the support of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program.

The American Cancer Society, in partnership with the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable and the Indiana Immunization Coalition, launched a 6-part, virtual provider education series this summer

The on-demand sessions ranged in topics and were designed to equip providers with the latest information, HPV vaccination guidelines, science, and implementation strategies to increase vaccination rates. Each webinar offers CME, CNE, and Pharmacy continuing education credits.

Andrea Stubbs, administrative director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, along with Marcie Fisher-Borne, PhD, formerly of the American Cancer Society, was featured in the fifth session in the provider education series. This session focused on effective evidence-based interventions and implementation. Through her presentation, Stubbs emphasized that a provider recommendation is the greatest predictor of HPV vaccination coverage, and there continues to be a need and opportunity to equip providers with tools and resources to make strong HPV vaccination recommendations consistently.

Rural U.S. populations experience high rates of cancers related to HPV, including cervical, oropharyngeal, and anal cancer (three of the six types of cancer caused by HPV). There is a persistent geographic disparity in HPV vaccination, with rural areas having among the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Increasing the uptake of the HPV vaccine in rural areas is an urgent public health priority.

Learn more here

We invite guest contributors to share information on how they are working to improve HPV vaccination in rural areas. If you are interested in contributing or learning more about our efforts to improve HPV vaccination with rural communities, please email us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.

Arkansas

The Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is thrilled to host its annual in-person conference for Arkansas pediatricians, guests, and community partners on Friday, August 25, through Saturday, August 26, in downtown Little Rock at the Ron Robinson Theater. The ARAAP 2023 conference is back again. Presentations will focus on adolescent health, including reproductive health, eating disorders, ADHD, trauma-informed practices, foster youth, and more.

HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast will host two trainings and technical assistance opportunities this fall. More information will be released when available. The planning committee is also hosting an in-person meeting in early December, following up on the March, April, and May state meeting series. The in-person event will allow HPV vaccination and cancer prevention organizations to spend time together to collaborate. Attendees will share information, generate ideas, and stimulate action to improve HPV vaccination in the Southeastern U.S.

Visit the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast website at stjude.org/southeast-roundtable. Join the listserv here to receive the latest information about the roundtable. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.

Mississippi

Walmart Wellness Day is a nationwide event encouraging families to achieve and live healthier lifestyles. In the South Region, Mississippi was the only state chosen to participate in this event from 10 am–2 pm on August 19. The HPV team members of St. Jude will volunteer at the Southaven Walmart, distributing HPV informational flyers to shoppers. Readers interested in volunteering can contact Amy Ellis from the American Cancer Society at amy.ellis@cancer.org

On July 14, the Mississippi State Dental Examiner Board voted 7-0 in support of the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry to proceed with HPV vaccination efforts. The Board’s approval is crucial for HPV cancer prevention because it enables oral health providers and students to screen and increase vaccination rates in their practice.

Advocacy efforts were spearheaded by Dr. Sreenivas Koka, with the support of Dr. Angela Filzen and staff at University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry.

Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee

Back-to-School Immunization Drive

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program is teaming up with the Shelby County Health Department, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Shot RX for the 2nd annual 2023 Back-to-School Immunization Drive. Recommended children’s vaccines will be offered at no cost.

We are excited to collaborate for the three-part series of immunization events on July 29, August 5, and September 30 at the Teaching & Learning Academy, 2485 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112. Last year we engaged parents and families to share information and resources about the importance of HPV vaccination. Many parents saw the importance of vaccinating their children 9 and older, and over 130 students received the HPV vaccine.

This year parents will receive a Path to a Bright Future HPV fact sheet, and the children will receive a backpack, lunch bag, and our new Path to a Bright Future back-to-school activity book. We look forward to engaging parents and families again this year.

Volunteers are needed; sign up here to volunteer.

September 18: The 3Cs Motivational Interviewing for Adolescent Vaccination

Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach | 600 Jefferson Avenue | Memphis, Tennessee
With such positive feedback from the Spring motivational intervention event, we have lined up a second training focused on this topic. Save the date for a half-day training experience on The 3Cs: Motivational Interviewing for Adolescent Vaccinations on September 18 (time to be announced). Unity® Consortium developed the 3Cs educational program, based on principles of motivational interviewing, to demonstrate how healthcare providers can deliver confident, concise, and consistent (3Cs) recommendations for adolescent vaccinations. This training will highlight the newly updated 3Cs program and help you develop skills to improve adolescent vaccination coverage in your setting. More information will be shared soon. CMEs will be offered.

For more information about the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable, please visit our webpage HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable for Memphis and Shelby County or contact Carol.Minor@stjude.org or PreventHPV@stjude.org

September 19: The 3rd annual BBQ, HPV Vaccination & You Roundtable

is gearing up for the 3rd annual BBQ, Blues, HPV Vaccination & You Roundtable event Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 8:30 am–3:30 pm at the Memphis Botanic Garden. The event will be filled with learning and updates for members and partners eager to impact HPV vaccination and cancer prevention in Memphis and Shelby County. We have planned a robust schedule of presentations that will build local context and capacity to improve HPV vaccination coverage and prevent HPV cancers. Register today!

For more information about the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable, please visit our webpage HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable for Memphis and Shelby County or contact Carol.Minor@stjude.org or PreventHPV@stjude.org

Kasia Mitchell has joined the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program a Graduate Student Assistant. She is a native Memphian and master of health administration candidate at George Washington University. Her experience spans multiple areas of health care, from outpatient vascular surgery operations and accounting to hospital administration. Prior to joining the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, she completed an administrative internship at UC Davis Health in Sacramento, California, where she led a community project and conducted a needs assessment for the Patient Contact Center.

She is looking forward to learning more about public health, HPV cancer prevention, and participating in program implementation and evaluation activities during her time at St. Jude. After completing her MHA and internship, Kasia’s goal is to pursue an administrative fellowship at a mission-driven institution where she can explore her interests in population health and the role of hospitals in the community.

August 9 is Book Lovers' Day. The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program Team shared their favorite book or books.

"This is a really hard question for me because I am a book lover, and I have read so many amazing books over the years. One that has been especially impactful for me is The Four Agreements. It was one of the many books that I read during the pandemic, and it gave me a different perspective on life.” – Julia Brown, program manager

"I have a lot of favorite books, but if I had to choose one it would be Atomic Habits by James Clear. I love the way he breaks down the powerful effects of creating good habits.” – Karlisa Cryer, medical content writer

"I have several favorite books, but I would like to mention the book I liked the most when I was in high school—The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I remember it was very heart-touching and showed the power of true love and companionship.” – Pragya Gautam Poudel, postdoctoral fellow

"My favorite book will always be Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? This was the first book I learned to read, and I will be forever grateful.” – Portia Knowlton, program coordinator

"The Cat in the Hat is still a favorite book of mine. The book taught me to not fall for temptation but to do what is right." – Ursula Leflore, administrative specialist

"I would have to say my favorite book is Tuesdays with Morrie because the Mitch and Morrie story reminds me of the time I spent visiting my 90-year-old neighbor every day after school when I was in high school. Her name was Cornelia Blom, but I called her Oma, which means grandma in Dutch. Oma would share life lessons and talk about memories from her childhood with me. She also gave me so many books from her home library that I still have." – Duha Magzoub, program coordinator

“I have several, but the last one I read was: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It chronicles how a family becomes connected to a homeless man and how they value each other." – Carol Minor, program coordinator

“It’s hard to pick only one, but In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is based on a powerful, true story about the Mirabal sisters (Las Mariposas) and one of my favorites. It sparked an interest in women’s history and reading books about women’s contributions that I was not taught in school.” – Kasia Mitchell, graduate student assistant

"I have so many favorite reads, but one that is a go-to for me at least every 4 years is an allegory titled Hinds Feet on High Places. I love how the author creatively presents life lessons in an exciting tale. I simply get lost in all the symbolism and the fun metaphors used throughout." – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director

"My favorite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This novel fascinates me because, as you mature and read it again, you unearth new philosophical gems." – Cristobal Valdebenito, program coordinator

"I am definitely in the favorite books, plural, category. So, I am going to focus on books that really changed me when I was younger. Among the most influential and formative books of my childhood were To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes." – Heather Brandt, director

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s Path to a Bright Future campaign spotlights the benefits of on-time HPV vaccination to prevent cancer in children ages 9–12. The campaign also raises awareness of the dangers of HPV pre-cancers and cancers.

Join us:

Get your child vaccinated against HPV by their 13th birthday: If you or your child is in the recommended age range (ages 9–26 and possibly until age 45), get vaccinated.
Encourage others to get their children vaccinated: Normalize HPV vaccination as cancer prevention.
Share the facts: HPV vaccination is safe, effective, and durable. It prevents 6 types of cancer.

Learn more and join the campaign.