Champlain Valley AHEC Works to Improve HPV Vaccination Rates in Vermont

The Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is taking a lead role for the Vermont AHEC Network in participating in a National AHEC program to improve HPV vaccination rates in Vermont. Working with the CDC’s “You are the Key to Cancer Prevention” program, the Vermont AHEC Network will offer education programs and materials for Vermont providers to improve the HPV vaccination rates of their patients. According to the Vermont Department of Health, 50% of teen girls and 70% of teen boys are NOT fully vaccinated against HPV.

Our HPV project lead Judy Wechsler wants you to know the most important things a provider can do to encourage HPV vaccination:

• Recommend it! More vaccinations occur as the result of recommendations by a trusted provider.
• Bundle it! Providing the HPV vaccine as part of the “bundle” of vaccines that 11 and 12 year old boys and girls routinely receive will result in higher vaccination rates.
• Reinforce it! Reinforce the fact that the HPV vaccine prevents cancer.