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Maine “Start at 9” Campaign to Prevent HPV Cancers

Woman hugging a child, along with the words HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is most effective when given in early adolescence before any exposure to HPV. HPV vaccine can be given starting at age 9. Implementing HPV vaccination at the earliest opportunity not only produces a strong immune response, but also increases the percentage of patients that are up to date by age 13. In alignment with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable also endorse starting the series at age nine.

Other reasons for starting the HPV vaccine series at age 9 include:

Provides more time for completion of the series.
Decreases concerns about the vaccine increasing sexual activity.
Decreases requests for only the “school-required vaccines.”
Increases the likelihood of full vaccination before first HPV exposure.
Is highly acceptable to systems, providers, and parents.

What is HPV?

HPV is a type of virus that is spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. There are many different types (strains) of HPV virus that can infect people. HPV infections are very common and almost everyone will be infected by some form of HPV in their lifetime.

Some HPV infections can lead to cancer. Every year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women.

Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within two years. But sometimes, HPV infections will last longer and can cause some cancers. HPV infections can cause cancers of the:

Cervix, vagina, and vulva
Penis
Anus
Back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer), including the base of the tongue and tonsils

For Parents

Why does my child need the HPV vaccine?

85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime.

HPV can cause cancers of the:

Cervix, vagina, and vulva in women
Penis in men
Anus in both men and women
Back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both men and women

Cancer usually takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. There is no way to know who will develop cancer or other health problems from HPV.

HPV vaccination can prevent over 90% of cancers caused by HPV, as well as anal, vaginal, cervical, and vulvar precancers (abnormal cells that can lead to cancer).

That’s why HPV vaccines work best when given at age at age 9, before contact with the HPV virus.

When should my child get the HPV Vaccine?

Dose #1: 9–12 years

Dose #2: 6–12 months after the first dose

Early protection works best - HPV vaccines can be given starting at age 9. Vaccinating earlier rather than later will protect your child long before they ever have contact with the virus.

Starting earlier also means less doses - children who start the HPV vaccine series on or after their 15^thbirthday will need three doses given over 6 months.

Where can my child get vaccinated?

HPV vaccine is available at no-cost to all children in Maine, 9-18 years through Maine’s Vaccine for Children Immunization Program. To see a list of participating sites, please visit our website.

For Providers

As a health care provider, you can aid cancer prevention efforts by talking to parents or guardians about the importance of the vaccine to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers. Indeed, evidence suggests that a provider recommendation is among the most persuasive reasons parents choose to vaccinate their children.

The latest research also suggests that starting the HPV vaccination series at age 9 can increase the percentage of your patients that are up to date by age 13.

Nationally, one in five vaccinating providers are already administering the HPV vaccine at ages 9 to 10 and half are willing to recommend it at age 9.

Nearly half of Maine adolescents are not fully vaccinated against HPV and therefore unprotected against HPV and future HPV cancers. A growing body of evidence shows that starting the HPV vaccine series at age 9, rather than waiting until age 11, increases on-time vaccination and will, therefore save more lives.

To date, the following organizations in Maine have endorsed starting the HPV vaccination series at age 9.