Infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, anus, throat, mouth, and penis. Prevention of these HPV-related cancers could be achieved by immunization with the nonavalent (HPV6,11,16,18,31,33,45,52,58) vaccine currently commercially available. However, in the U.S. approximately only 30% of females and 20% of males in the recommended age group receive the complete, three-dose HPV vaccine. Furthermore, data from the Los Angeles county suggest that HPV vaccination rates among these groups are lower than the national average. Significant barriers clearly remain including knowledge of the vaccine, transportation, number of doses and concern of side effects. Several programs worldwide have shown that schools remain an important venue for education as well as vaccination. In the US, vaccination within schools remains difficult because of many barriers including lack of nursing, insurance reimbursement, and liability. However, the school remains an important access to educational formats. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of educational sessions on the HPV vaccine among parents with children of vaccination age as a strategy to increase HPV vaccine uptake, by comparing HPV vaccination rates before and after the intervention. It is hypothesized HPV vaccine uptake will improve through the receipt of educational sessions to the parents of middle school children about the importance of the anti-cancer vaccine, the HPV vaccine. Three schools within Cedars-Sinai catchment area with whom Cedars-Sinai already has a Memorandum of Understanding in place: Berendo, Drew, and Carver Middle Schools in Los Angeles (SPA 4, SPA 6) will be recruited to the study. HPV vaccination rates will be compared before and after the intervention at the end of the observation period (12 months).
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HPV vaccination rates
Timeframe: 12 months