Bringing the HPV Cancer Fight to Capitol Hill

Help support the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2023

February is National Cancer Prevention Month

 

By Pamela Tom | HPVANDME Founder

When I founded HPVANDME in 2013, I hardly thought there would still be a need for HPV advocacy a decade later. However, our work is not done. Today helping people learn about the HPV vaccine and cancer prevention continues to be critical.

  • The HPV vaccine helps prevent six types of cancer.
  • HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is now the #1 HPV cancer in the US, surpassing incidents of cervical cancer.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused dramatic drops in HPV vaccination rates.

The PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2023 (H.R. 3633) would provide $5M/year to fund a national HPV education campaign for five years, FY 2024 to 2028. PREVENT stands for Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination Education and New Treatments.

HPV advocacy partners from across the country met in Washington DC in November to lobby legislators to support this important legislation


Passing the Bill 

Introduced in 2023 by Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida), the bill has bipartisan support in the House. The current goal is to gain a companion bill in the Senate. Several Democrats said they would be willing to get behind a Senate bill if it has bipartisan support. Encouraging US Republican senators to join the effort results in a win-win because the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act will help save thousands of lives. Providing more education about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy will help reduce parent hesitancy and support public health across the country.

 


How You Can Help

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. It’s the perfect time to let your representatives and senators know about the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act. Here is a sample letter that you may send to them. HPVANDME would love to hear from you if you get a positive response from your legislator. Email: info@hpvandme.org

Thank you for helping us reduce HPV cancers in future generations. 

 

Sample Letter for your Legislators

Dear (Representative or Senator Name),

As your constituent, I am writing to ask for your support of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2023 (H.R. 3633). This important bipartisan legislation provides funding for a national public awareness campaign about HPV cancer prevention. The bill will help save thousands of lives. 

Why is this important? 

HPV is so common, the CDC says, “Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. More than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that cause disease. About 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.” HPV causes over 35-thousand cancers each year, according to the CDC.

Vaccination in adolescence helps prevent six types of HPV-associated cancers later in life. HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is now the #1 HPV cancer in the US, surpassing incidents of cervical cancer. As more girls have been vaccinated, cervical cancer has declined. The vaccine works. Doctors agree with increased vaccination rates, we can virtually eliminate HPV cancers in a few decades. 

I strongly support increased education about HPV cancer prevention: there is an anti-cancer vaccine that’s safe and effective. Please watch this video to learn more about the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act. 

A yes vote is a vote to save lives. 

Thank you for your support and sharing with your colleagues.

 

(Signature, City/State)