August 19, 2016

What You Need to Know About the HPV Immunization Initiative

Public health nurses and other public health officials throughout the state have been working on raising Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunization rates, per an initiative from the Mass Department of Public Health (DPH).

According to the DPH, approximately 79 million people in the US are infected with HPV and approximately 14 million new infections are predicted this year.¹

Each year, an estimated 26,000 cancers are attributable to HPV; 17,000 in women and 9,000 in men. ¹

Despite the fact that the HPV vaccine can prevent cancer, immunization rates among female and male adolescents are low.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Practice recommend that all 11‐12 year‐olds receive the HPV vaccine.

At Harrington, we have state supplied HPV vaccinations for children under the age of 18 who have not received them, available at our Preventive Health Clinic, thanks to the Vaccines for Children (VCF) program.

We collaborate with the CDC, DPH and the local boards of health in the following towns:  Southbridge, Charlton, Dudley, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Wales and Holland. These entities combined provide all vaccinations for children ages 2-18.

As of November 15, 2015, the VFC program provides vaccinations to children birth to age 18 at no cost (regardless of health Insurance coverage).

Typically Harrington administers vaccines by appointment. At our Travel Clinic, if children between the ages of 2 and 18 have an appointment and their vaccinations records indicate that they are due for one of their childhood vaccinations, we can give them those vaccinations via the VFC program at that time.

The Preventive Health Department and International Travel Clinic does not administer vaccinations to children under the age of 2 but we do provide information and referrals for pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease.

The Preventive Health and Travel Clinic is located at our 100 South St., Southbridge campus in Suite 210. For more information, contact us at 508-765-8197.

¹ http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/infection-control/mdph-hpv-information-sheet.pdf