Cervical cancer prevention possible through HPV vaccination

5/14/2013

Though the incidence of cervical cancer declined slightly for women in the U.S. over the past year, cervical cancer still represents more than half of the total number of HPV-associated cancers among women. The good news is, through routine screening and HPV vaccination, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers impacting women worldwide. The HPV vaccination target for Healthy People 2020 – a federal government health initiative – is 80 percent. According to 2010 national survey data, only 32 percent of girls aged 13 to 17 years had received the recommended three doses of the HPV vaccine. “Healthcare providers should educate themselves, their patients, and the general public about the advantages and importance of HPV vaccination in order to reduce the incidence of HPV-related cancers like cervical cancer,” said Georgia CORE Vice Chair Roland Matthews, MD. For more information and specific vaccination recommendations for women and men aged 13 to 26 years, please see the CDC site .