March 5, 2021
The Honorable Kathy Castor
United States House of Representatives
2052 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Castor,
We write to thank you for introducing the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act (PREVENT HPV Cancers Act). We appreciate your leadership on education campaigns around vaccines.
As you know, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the HPV vaccine be given to adolescents, as well as to certain adults who have not been previously vaccinated adequately, including all those under age 26 years and those between the ages of 27 and 45 years based on recommendations by their clinicians. Informing the public and providers about the importance of the HPV vaccine for this catch-up population is critical for preventing HPV-related cancers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the important role that vaccines play in protecting public health. The pandemic has also demonstrated the importance of educational campaigns for sharing information about vaccines with the public. Educational campaigns about the benefits of vaccines, who should receive vaccines, and on vaccine safety are critical for combating vaccine hesitancy and building confidence in vaccines.
That is why we are particularly appreciative that your legislation would create a national HPV vaccine public awareness campaign. The PREVENT HPV Cancers Act would authorize $5 million to create a national HPV vaccine public awareness campaign through the CDC, using advice from stakeholders based on evidence-based information for policy and program development, implementation, and evaluation.
Again, thank you for leadership on the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act. Members of AVAC stand ready to work with you on this, and other important policy solutions, to expand access to HPV vaccines to those who need it, particularly to the adult catch-up population.
Sincerely,
American Public Health Association
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Immunization Action Coalition
Infectious Diseases Society of America
March of Dimes Inc
National Black Nurses Association
National Consumers League
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
STChealth
The Gerontological Society of America
Vaccinate Your Family