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

Preserving and Accelerating Gains in HPV Cancer Prevention

As I write this section of our February 2025 Path to Prevention newsletter, I am somewhat disheartened by the flurry of activities related to decisions about the health and safety of Americans today and into the future. Such activities are antithetical to science, evidence, and documented results. In the December 2024 Path to Prevention newsletter, I shared a few thoughts about the vaccination horizon. As a research hospital, St. Jude supports public health actions and policies that are driven by documented outcomes. The use of safe and effective vaccines and the use of other outcomes-based therapies to fight diseases has helped contribute to an incredible standard of living in the U.S. St. Jude will continue to support public health policies based on documented and verified scientific methods and outcomes. Our resolve to remain true to the founding principles of St. Jude, which celebrated 63 years on February 4, persists – “No child should die in the dawn of life.” Scientific discovery is at the core of what researchers at St. Jude continue to do each day in support of this effort. We remain steadfast in our commitment to prevention.

Our programming in support of on-time HPV vaccination among children to prevent HPV cancers in adulthood is not possible without tremendous partners and active collaboration. In our newsletter this month, you will see evidence of this across our major initiatives – rural HPV cancer prevention, the Southeast Roundtable, and more. We remain committed to science, evidence, public health, and cancer prevention. Our collaboration and collective efforts are important to leverage available resources to ensure all children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. We pledge to deploy our resources to preserve and accelerate gains in HPV cancer prevention.

“If I had to wear one outfit for the rest of my life, it would probably be pajamas.”

Kids Aren’t Thinking about HPV.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, this month serves as a reminder to take proactive steps toward reducing the risk of cancer. With HPV vaccination, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to protect their children from HPV cancers by making sure they receive their on-time vaccination starting at age 9.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s national public awareness campaign "Their Future is in Your Hands" focuses on this simple yet powerful truth: Kids aren't thinking about HPV vaccination and that's why parents need to. Kids have these types of thoughts, not about HPV. We know HPV vaccination protects children from six types of cancer in adulthood. HPV is common and preventable, affecting nearly everyone at some point. Prioritize HPV vaccination between ages 9 and 12 for maximum effectiveness. Choosing HPV vaccination can lead to an HPV cancer-free future for children.

Visit the campaign webpage for more information and resources at stjude.org/preventHPV.

Celebrating Black History Month: Empowering Communities to Prevent HPV Cancers

Black History Month has been celebrated for nearly 50 years since February 1976 and recognizes the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. It also provides an opportunity for us to commit to efforts to improve unbiased health care and HPV cancer prevention.

Individuals in the United States who identify as African American experience significant health disparities, including lower rates of HPV vaccination series completion compared to the national average. This gap is partially due to a generational mistrust of health care practices among African American populations, stemming from past mistreatment by medical professionals. By strengthening community ties and cultural connections, we can prevent cancer in African American communities through targeted outreach and intervention strategies.

The overall incidence of HPV cancers may be lower among African American populations compared to the national average. However, when it comes to cervical cancer, individuals with a cervix who identify as African American show slightly higher incidence rates than the national average. Data indicate these individuals are 41% more likely to develop cervical cancer and 75% more likely to die from it compared to white women. Late-stage diagnoses significantly hinder survival rates.

HPV vaccination prevents 90% of HPV cancers. The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program promotes on-time vaccination for all children aged 9-12 to ensure a lifetime of protection against six types of cancers.

Addressing HPV Vaccination Inequities and HPV Cancer Disparities Experienced by African American and Black Communities

Our next virtual seminar in the Empowering and Strengthening Community, Culture, and Connection to Prevent HPV Cancers Seminar Series is on February 20 from noon to 1:15 p.m. Central Time. “Addressing HPV Vaccination Inequities and HPV Cancer Disparities Experienced by African American and Black Communities” will discuss disparities in HPV knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among African American and Black communities in the U.S.

Join us for this important conversation moderated by Synovia Moss, MPA, Good Health Women Immunization Networks and featuring the following presenters:

Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, FACOG, New York Medical College;

Andrea D. Willis, MD, MPH, FAAP, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee;

Nikki Hayes, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

Tamika Felder, Cervical Cancer Survivor and Chief Visionary of Cervivor, Inc.

Improving Rural HPV Vaccination Coverage

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program remains committed to addressing low HPV vaccination coverage among people living in rural areas of the United States.

Join us for our 2025 rural HPV vaccination quarterly updates meetings. These meetings will feature progress on priority action items and showcase successful efforts to promote HPV cancer prevention with rural communities. All meetings are from noon - 1 p.m. Central Time. Register here. Registration information is also available on our rural webpage, at stjude.org/hpvrural.

February 19

May 14

August 20

November 20 (National Rural Health Day 2025)

The following recent resources on rural HPV cancer prevention may be of interest:

Link to a recent article by Dr. Jason Semprini, Des Moines University examining the burden of HPV cancers in rural America beyond 2020. Stay tuned for more publications on rural HPV vaccination and HPV cancers data.

Link to a recent article by Drs. Semprini, Whitney Zahnd, University of Iowa, and Heather Brandt, St. Jude identifying which types of HPV cancers contributed to a widening disparity in HPV cancer incidence between rural and urban areas of U.S.

Link to the updated evidence summary on rural disparities in HPV vaccination from the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable.

Link to the ACS Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community resources, including access to monthly recordings and materials.

Tell us what you are working on related to rural HPV cancer prevention. If you are interested in presenting as part of an upcoming quarterly updates meeting, sharing information in the quarterly communication (sent one week prior to each quarterly meeting), and/or contributing to our monthly Wide Open Spaces article series, we would love to showcase your work with rural communities to increase HPV vaccination and prevent HPV cancers. We are all learning from each other to improve protection among people living in rural communities. Read the latest Wide Open Spaces article about collaborating with dental practices to improve HPV vaccination in rural Iowa here.

Registration is open for the 2025 Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community. This initiative from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable brings together health care professionals and community leaders dedicated to increasing HPV vaccination rates in rural areas. The Learning Community offers an opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and gain valuable knowledge to help combat HPV-related cancers in rural populations. By participating, you will have access to:

Presentations by experts in the field

Strategies and best practices for improving vaccination rates in rural settings

Networking opportunities with like-minded professionals and organizations

Register here. Registration is on a rolling basis; however, the first session is on March 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time via Zoom. If you have any questions, contact Ashley Lach at Ashley.lach@cancer.org.

Wide Open Spaces:

Supporting HPV Vaccination with Rural Communities

Using Data as Our Guide

Two recent articles described the growing difference between HPV cancers in rural areas as compared to urban ones in the U.S. Twenty years ago, rural and urban HPV cancer rates were nearly the same. Now, we see a growing divide demanding our attention. HPV vaccination coverage is lower in rural areas compared to urban ones. Action is needed to change direction. Dr. Heather Brandt, director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, summarizes key points and shares ways in which the data serve as our guide.

Learn more about this project here.

About the Author:
Heather M. Brandt, PhD directs the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she also serves as co-associate director of community outreach and engagement and members in the epidemiology and cancer control.

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.

HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast

The Southeast Roundtable held its virtual annual meeting on January 21-23. Each day focused on one of three priority actions of the Southeast Roundtable – communication, elimination, and starting at age 9. Each day also featured updates on progress related to the priority action and presentations from subject matter experts. Importantly, there also was time to discuss opportunities for action across the Southeastern region. We had so much great energy and engagement during the meeting.

The first day included a more detailed review of the formation of the Southeast Roundtable and its evolution. Bylaws were approved in December 2024, which included convening an Executive Committee in addition to a Steering Committee (previously Planning Committee in place since fall 2022). If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else, nominations are open until February 28, 2025. Access the Executive Committee nomination form here. A process for membership also was approved as part of the bylaws. Be sure to join the Southeast Roundtable by completing this membership form.

Following the meeting, the 2024 annual report of the Southeast Roundtable also was released and will be posted on the webpage soon. If you were unable to attend the annual meeting, the April quarterly communication will include a summary. The edited recordings and materials will be shared at stjude.org/southeast-roundtable soon.

Communication: Develop and implement a communication campaign and messages for the Southeastern region

In December 2024, the Communication Priority Action Implementation Team released the “It’s Our Way Down South” communication campaign for use beginning last month. The campaign was developed by the Implementation Team beginning in May 2024. We will evaluate the campaign during the first phase from January through April 30, 2025 to improve resources during a second phase, which will again be guided by the Implementation Team.

To request access to the campaign materials, complete this form. Once the form is completed, you will have access to co-brand social media graphics, postcards, posters, and more through an easy-to-use software, Canva. In addition, campaign materials are shared through Box and Dropbox.

If you have an upcoming event for which you would like print materials, complete this form to request print versions of the postcards and posters to be mailed to you at no charge. Some limits may apply. Please allow 5-7 business days for receipt of print materials.

Access the following campaign resources for more information:

Special communication about the campaign sent on December 3.

Campaign kickoff event recording (unedited)

Addendum recording for how to work with images in Canva is accessible through Box and Dropbox (If you are unable to access the recording through these options, please email us at PreventHPV@stjude.org)

Elimination: Develop and disseminate a plan for HPV cancer elimination in the Southeast, beginning with cervical cancer as a public health concern

From August to December 2024, the Elimination Priority Action Implementation Team administered the Elimination Policy in the Southeast Needs Assessment through a two-phased approach. First, the Implementation Team developed a needs assessment survey that was distributed widely across the southeast and beyond (Phase 1). Phase 1 of the assessment was launched through a special communication on August 1, 2024. Secondly, select subject matter experts were identified and invited to participate in structured interviews (Phase 2).

Important contexts were provided regarding utilizing terminology related to elimination or near elimination. The summary of the responses led to recommended best practices that define the elimination of HPV cancers, starting with cervical cancer, as a public health concern. Additionally, most respondents (44%) indicated that their elimination efforts were in the contemplation state of readiness, however, there were conflicting responses across states. Similarly, most respondents (47%) indicated that they were not sure of the timeline of existing or emerging elimination efforts. Interview responses called for timely action, multi-level community involvement, and coordinated efforts with existing cancer control programs, among other things.

As a final step, the elimination priority Implementation Team hosted a meeting with the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) directors and coordinators in the southeast region to gain valuable context and insight before developing the regional plan.

The Elimination Priority Action Implementation Team is working to compile, summarize and review the results of the assessment to inform a draft of the regional plan and associated toolkit that are aimed to be shared in March 2025 and finalized by April 2025.

Start at Age 9: Accelerate efforts to start HPV vaccination at age 9

Of the existing programs and resources reviewed by the Age 9 Priority Action Implementation Team, they have chosen to focus on receiving and providing training on the following health care provider training. The Announcement Approach Training is an evidence-based intervention promoting strong health care provider recommendations for HPV vaccination and other routinely recommended adolescent vaccinations. This training program was identified as a main program to be promoted as part of the Southeast Roundtable.

The Southeast Roundtable Age 9 Implementation Team has also been working in collaboration with Unity Consortium to offer the 3Cs training, focused on providing confident, concise, and consistent vaccine recommendations for health care providers. The 3Cs resources include a collection of video vignettes as well as a Q&A style reference guide. These resources, including an online training option, are available here.

The Implementation Team continues to work on developing and disseminating targeted messaging to key partners and health care providers to drive improved knowledge of the benefits of starting HPV vaccination at age 9 and encourage initiation of HPV vaccination at age 9.

Join the Southeast Roundtable
Visit the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast website at stjude.org/southeast-roundtable. Join us as a member of the Southeast Roundtable here to receive the latest information about the Southeast Roundtable. Read the latest Southeast Roundtable quarterly communication here.

HPV Awareness Day Seminar Series, March 3-7

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program is thrilled to offer programming around HPV Awareness Day 2025, which is held on March 4 annually to promote awareness about HPV vaccination and HPV cancer prevention. This year’s HPV Awareness Day Seminar Series includes virtual seminars by subject matter experts discussing the history of vaccinations in the U.S., HPV vaccination policy, eliminating HPV cancers beginning with cervical cancer as a public health concern, understanding opportunities to improve communication about the importance of HPV cancer prevention for boys and men, and addressing gaps in coverage among people living in rural areas.

Seminars will be held daily on March 3-7 from noon – 1:15 p.m. Central Time. Register here. Seminars will be recorded, shared with registrants, and later posted to the program webpage. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.

March 3: Vaccines in the U.S: A Journey Through History

This virtual seminar will explore the fascinating history of vaccination in the U.S. and highlight the important contributions of vaccinations to the public health and safety of our communities.

March 4: Promoting HPV Vaccination Policy to Prevent HPV Cancers

This virtual seminar will focus on promoting HPV vaccination policies to prevent HPV cancers. To fully realize the potential and benefits of the HPV vaccine, it is essential to pursue policy changes that address the systemic barriers to vaccination coverage in the U.S.

March 5: Realizing a Regional Plan to Eliminate HPV Cancers, Starting with Cervical Cancer, as a Public Health Concern in the Southeast

This virtual seminar will describe the progress and potential of implementing a regional plan to eliminate HPV cancers, starting with cervical cancer as a public health concern, in the Southeastern U.S. as part of the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast.

March 6: Closing the HPV Vaccination Gap and Preventing HPV Cancers from Boys to Men

This virtual seminar will discuss strategies to continue to narrow the HPV vaccination gap between boys and girls to reinforce efforts to prevent growing rates of HPV cancers in men.

March 7: Harvesting Best Practices to Prevent Rural HPV Cancers:

Rural life is a choice made by 1 in 5 people, but they do not choose to be at higher risk of cancers, including HPV cancers. HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. This virtual seminar will explore progress to prevent HPV cancers with rural communities in the U.S.

Cervivor 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit

The 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit powered by Cervivor, Inc. was held in Washington, D.C. on January 23-26. The summit brought together health care professionals, researchers, advocates, and patients to share knowledge, resources, and best practices across the U.S. Cervivor as an organization also celebrated 20 years of working to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Chief Visionary of Cervivor, Inc. Tamika Felder, created a mission to educate, empower, support, and mobilize patients, survivors, and families impacted by cervical cancer. By amplifying the patient's voice, Cervivor aims to ensure education, awareness, and prevention efforts reflect the lived experiences of those affected.

Andrea Stubbs, administrative director for the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, shared expert insights on the panel, “What’s Happening in HPV Vaccination?” alongside Deanna Kepka, PhD, with Huntsman Cancer Institute and Zuli Garcia with Knock and Drop Iowa, moderated by Linda Eckert, MD, from the University of Washington. The panel explored the challenges and opportunities in delivering HPV vaccination programs in underserved and rural communities.

Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama 2.0 Summit

The Operation Wipe Out Summit took place on January 31 in Birmingham, Alabama to honor the hard work and advocacy of the partners involved in Operation Wipe Out over the past year. Operation Wipe Out is the first of its kind state plan in the U.S. and focuses on a three-step approach: HPV vaccination, cervical screening, and cervical cancer follow-up care and treatment. Alabama ranks seventh in cervical cancer incidence and third in mortality in the U.S.

During the summit, members of Operation Wipe Out highlighted several key points. This year's theme was “sailing and navigating,” encouraging attendees to be pioneers and make a difference by getting involved and serving others. Isabel Scarinci, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Nancy Wright, Alabama Department of Public Health, introduced a navigation chart tool to help partners get started. They also distributed handouts titled "What Can You Do to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Alabama?"

This experience provided a reflective moment for the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program team members as we navigate our efforts to develop a regional plan for the Southeast. We must continue to connect our coordinates—such as goals, objectives, and community partners—and strive to increase HPV vaccination rates and work toward a world free of HPV cancers.

Portia Knowlton, Isabel Scarinci, PhD, and Julia Brown

VAX 2 STOP CANCER: Increase Alabama’s Adolescent HPV Vaccination Rates

After months of communication and collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and various partner organizations, VAX 2 STOP CANCER developed and distributed a comprehensive document addressing the need to increase HPV vaccination rates among adolescents in Alabama. This document highlights the support of 15 professional health organizations for this important cause. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama sent an email blast to all its pediatric and family medicine providers with the following message: "VAX 2 STOP CANCER encourages providers to recommend the HPV vaccine to their patients." Click here to view the letter.

Register for the Tennessee Cancer Coalition (TC2) 2025 Statewide Annual Meeting, which will take place on April 7–8, 2025, at the Drury Inn in Franklin, Tennessee. This event will bring together organizations from across the state to discuss cancer prevention and control efforts. The annual meeting promises networking, best practice sharing, and presentations in cancer support and research. Learn more and register here.

Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable Mid-Year Meeting, March 18

The Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable will hold its mid-year meeting on March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon Central Time at 600 Jefferson, Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach. The mid-year meeting will bring together members and partners to reflect on the progress made since the annual meeting in September 2024 and discuss the next steps in collective efforts to prevent HPV cancers.

The meeting will highlight the milestones achieved through collaboration with Memphis Roundtable members and local partners, showcasing our growth, impactful partner interventions, and increased community engagement. It will also provide a platform to revisit the priority action opportunities identified during the annual meeting, exploring actionable steps to further increase HPV vaccination rates.

Attendees will hear from leaders in HPV vaccination efforts locally and across Tennessee, while a review of TennIIS Shelby County data will offer valuable insights and resources to support vaccination efforts, including updates for VFC providers.

Complimentary lunch will be provided as the program concludes.

To learn more about the Memphis Roundtable, please visit stjude.org/memphis-roundtable. Read the Memphis Roundtable December e-communication here.

Additional Partner Updates

The International Papillomavirus Society Live Panel Event, March 4

Join the International HPV Awareness Day (IHAD) Live Panel Event on March 4 hosted by the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). This event offers an opportunity for clinicians, health care professionals, implementation specialists, and patient advocates to engage with an expert panel for an interactive discussion of key challenges and opportunities around HPV awareness and related disease prevention.

This year our panel of experts is exploring the potential for inclusive approaches to HPV awareness and alliance-building between communities, as a key strategy to reduce the impact of HPV-related cancer. Register here.

International Papillomavirus Society One Less Worry Campaign 2025

The International Papillomavirus Society is preparing for the One Less Worry Campaign 2025 and looking for young people who have an HPV story to tell to get involved. The International Papillomavirus Society is requesting one-minute testimonial videos that are ‘selfie-style’ on the mobile phone where people tell their story (told in their native language) with a call to action, this year focusing particularly on HPV vaccination. To guide the process, we have a Testimonial Storytelling Guide available to follow, which includes essential messages and calls to action. Let’s challenge this network to see how many inspiring HPV stories we can capture from around the world. This will convey the desired message that we are tackling HPV together. When ready send your HPV videos and photos to hpvday@kenes.com.

Unity Consortium Report: Expert Perspectives on Adolescent Immunization Platform Visits

Unity Consortium hosted a virtual roundtable in September 2024 to gather expert perspectives on the experience with, the importance of, and continuity of adolescent immunization platform visits as part of the ongoing efforts to improve adolescent immunization rates. This report summarizes key themes from the discussion. Read more here.

Save The Date Adolescent Immunization Action Week is April 7-11

Save the Date for the 2025 Adolescent Immunization Action Week on April 7-11! The first AIAW25 Communications Briefing was held on January 28, Last year, AIAW24 reached over 275 MILLION, largely thanks to support and collaboration from partners. The Unity Consortium is aiming for an even greater impact with Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2025. Participate in AIAW25 to help share accurate vaccine information and motivate adolescents and young adults to stay up to date with recommended vaccines.

Learn more here.

“I found the Pursuit of Happyness to be very motivational. It just goes to show that everyone’s journey to success looks different, but if you stay the course, you can have a beautiful ending.” - Julia Brown, program manager

“One movie I’ve found inspirational is También la Lluvia (Even the Rain) which emphasizes the importance of community and doing what is right in the face of fear.”- Aeryn Longuevan, student intern

“The movie that inspired me as a child was the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. This film beautifully illustrates how we can make mistakes in life, but it's important to consider how we can correct our wrongdoings when given the chance. It taught me at a young age that time is precious and that we should use it wisely while being kind to others.”– Portia Knowlton, program coordinator

"Erin Brockovich stands out above the rest as my favorite movie. The true story and real-life Erin Brockovich remind me that even ordinary people can change the world for the better. Her tenacity and indefatigable pursuit of justice for others inspires me everyday to do the same and her empathy for those she empowers should inspire us all."- Nicole Williams, program coordinator

“One of the movies that comes to mind is King Richard, as the movie demonstrates the importance of hard work, perseverance, and the belief that success is possible despite any challenges. It shows how having a strong support system can help us overcome obstacles and remain focused on our goals. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of family and never giving up on our dreams.” - Pragya Gautam Poudel, postdoctoral fellow

“One of my favorite movies is Chef with Jon Favreau. It's a great father-son film but it also has a lot of lessons on forgiveness and success. Sometimes to reach a goal you have to tweak the plan as you go.” – Karlisa Cryer, medical content writer

“Hidden Figures shows how these three women were able to dream big and become true heroes.” - Ursula Leflore, senior administrative coordinator

“A movie I have always gathered inspiration from is The Devil Wears Prada. Beyond the spectacular fashion designs and entertaining characters, this movie reminds me of the importance of staying true to who you are, as well as your goals and values. While the road to success may not always be linear, I strive to embrace confidence, resilience, and maintain ambition in my future pursuits.” – Maddy McNee, program coordinator

“As a hopeless romantic, Notting Hill is one of my favorite movies. It’s a heartwarming love story that’s both lighthearted and inspiring, reminding us that nice guys (or girls) can indeed finish first.” – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director

“One of my favorite movies is Legally Blonde. This movie inspires me because it proves that others’ opinions do not define your potential. The main character, Elle Woods, was dismissed as a typical “valley girl” who should stick to fashion, yet she defied expectations and excelled at Harvard Law School. Her story shows that with confidence, determination, and staying true to yourself, you can break stereotypes and achieve greatness. It’s a powerful reminder to never let others limit what you’re capable of accomplishing. – Akeria Taylor, program coordinator

“My all-time favorite movie is the classic, Love and Basketball. I am a hopeless romantic, so this movie has always tugged on my heart strings highlighting both young love and the notion of never giving up on following your dreams,” - Samantha Wells, program coordinator

“I think the movie Shawshank Redemption reminds all of us to never lose hope, hold on to the things that matter, and shows us the depths of unexpected friendship in the most trying of circumstances.” - Heather Brandt, director

Get Free St. Jude HPV Education Materials

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has created a series of HPV fact sheets that emphasize basic information about HPV vaccination and include action steps to prevent HPV cancers. Facts sheets are available for several audiences.

General public

Parents

Health care providers

Childhood cancer survivors and their families

College students

Faith community

Select the versions in English or Spanish most appropriate for those you serve. Download the fact sheets or email PreventHPV@stjude.org to have copies mailed to you.

About St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. That’s why St. Jude is raising awareness on HPV vaccination, which can prevent six types of cancer caused by the virus. As the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated solely to children, St. Jude has an important role and responsibility in increasing the number of children who benefit from HPV vaccination and reduce their risk of preventable cancers later in life.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program envisions a world free of HPV cancers. Through education, promoting best practice models, and strategic partner engagement, its mission is to increase on-time HPV vaccination. On-time HPV vaccination by the 13th birthday provides safe, effective, and long-lasting protection against the most common types of HPV linked to cancers.

Learn more at stjude.org/HPV. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.