January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. More than 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year.
The good news is the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening. We encourage you to talk to your patients about getting Pap tests, HPV tests, and related vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12 since the vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years. For this reason, up until age 14, only two doses of the vaccine are required. Complete the HPV vaccine series by age 13 to ensure gap closures for HEDIS. Proactive scheduling and call campaigns are often most effective for this measure.
