On International HPV Awareness Day, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL14) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA08) introduced the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act or the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act with the ultimate goal of preventing HPV-related cancers. Castor announced the introduction of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act this morning at the HPV Elimination – Leading Progress Statewide (HELPS) 2021 summit hosted by Tampa’s Moffit Cancer Center and AdventHealth.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes six types of cancers, which leads to nearly 36,000 cases of cancer each year in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  We have a vaccine that can help prevent these cancers, and it’s the goal of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act to increase vaccination rates with an eye towards health equity. In fact, the World Health Organization established a goal of total eradication of cervical cancer last year due to the highly effective HPV vaccine and commitment by countries around the world.

“After learning six years ago that Florida and the Tampa Bay area have some of the worst HPV vaccination rates in the country, I joined forces with Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Anna Giuliano and USF College of Public Health to improve vaccination rates, increase public knowledge and save lives,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “It’s clear that we can do better across America as well, so together with Rep. Schrier, a pediatrician, I’m pleased to introduce the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act to boost vaccination rates and ensure that all communities – especially the underserved - are being educated on the importance of cancer prevention and screening. Americans are dying from cancer when they shouldn’t, and our bill provides a strong commitment to health education and equity that will save lives and decrease racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment. Working with local leaders like Moffitt and USF as well as the National Cancer Institute and CDC, I’m confident we can increase health equity and positive outcomes through public education and research.”

“As a parent and pediatrician, I want to keep my child and my patients safe and healthy. The HPV vaccine prevents cancer! My son has gotten his HPV vaccine, as have my patients; and I know that the most important factor in whether a parent chooses to immunize their child is a conversation with their healthcare provider. There is so much mistrust and vaccine hesitancy out there, and while immunizations are one of the greatest public health tools we have, they work best when there is widespread use. That’s why I’m excited about this bill. It will help spread awareness so more people get vaccinated, and also fund research to prevent death from HPV related cancers. I am proud to support Rep. Castor in this effort,” said Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. 

“The science has been clear for years – we have the tools to eliminate HPV related cancers globally, starting with cervical cancer. Rep Castor has had a long standing collaboration with us at the Moffitt Cancer Center in promoting interventions to prevent HPV cancers. We are so excited to see that Rep Castor has accelerated her commitment to this cause with the filing of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021 which will save tens of thousands of US lives per year,” said Anna Giuliano, PhD, Professor and Director, Center for Immunization and Infection Research in Cancer (CIIRC) at the Moffitt Cancer Center, American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor.

“Rep Castor's PREVENT HPV Cancers Act will help educate and protect boys and girls from HPV preventable cancers. Through her bill, hopefully other parents will never have to make videos to their kids saying goodbye, as I did when first diagnosed with HPV related tonsil cancer at age 44,” said Jason Mendelsohn, founder of SupermanHPV and an HPV cancer survivor.

“This bill is exactly what is needed to help eliminate HPV-related cancers. I was diagnosed at age 25 and lost my fertility and nearly my life. HPV is extremely common and when it becomes cancer it can be deadly. We have the tools to prevent cancer, there is no reason why we shouldn't. I am proud to use my voice to support the Prevent HPV Cancers Act,” said Tamika Felder, founder of Cervivor, Inc. and a cervical cancer survivor.

H.R. 1550, the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act will:

·                Create a CDC-run national public awareness campaign to increase HPV vaccination rates (especially among males and communities most impacted by HPV cancers) and increase Americans understanding of HPV-associated cancers

·                Increase funding at the National Cancer Institute to expand, intensify and coordinate research on HVP-associated cancers

·                Give states additional resources to improve their immunization information systems

·                Focus on early detection by expanding funding for the CDC’s Cervical Cancer Early Detection initiative to make sure we are getting the resources out to underserved communities since they are all too often bearing the brunt of cervical cancer deaths.

Supporting organizations include: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Physicians, American Dental Association, American Medical Students Association, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Cancer Support Community, Cervivor, Inc., Florida Community Health Centers, Florida Medical Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, March of Dimes, Moffitt Cancer Center, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Association of School Nurses, Nurses Who Vaccinate, Oncology Nursing Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Superman HPV, and Tampa Black Nurses Association.