Toolkit

You can use the resources in this toolkit to map out a plan for your institution. This toolkit brings together ideas, strategies, and sample materials that you can use to design and implement your own HPV vaccination campaign. Pick and choose the ideas that work best for your school!

What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an extremely common sexually transmitted infection. Around 80-85% of people will contract an HPV infection at some point in life, but most will never even know. However, for some, the infection can persist and cause genital warts and cancer. The HPV vaccine is a safe, effective way to prevent these infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and others recommend all children be vaccinated at ages 11-12.  

Adolescent vaccination uptake in the United States remains low. Indiana, in particular, has one of the lowest rates of adolescent HPV immunization in the United States. Around 60% of Indiana adolescents are not fully protected against HPV. Many public health partners continue to work on increasing adolescent HPV vaccination rates.  But, it also points to a growing need to vaccinate young adults with the HPV vaccine, which is recommended for all people through age 26. In other words, it’s not too late for college-age students to receive the vaccination series. Colleges and universities across Indiana can and should play an important role in protecting students against HPV by developing initiatives to increase HPV vaccination among their students.

Here are some key facts the CDC wants everyone to know about HPV and HPV vaccination:

1. HPV is common. Almost every person who is sexually active will acquire HPV at some time in their life without HPV vaccination. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become newly infected with HPV each year. While most HPV infections will go away on their own, infections that don’t go away can cause certain types of cancer. These cancers can be life-threatening.  HPV can cause:

• cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva;
• cancers of the penis; and
• cancers of the anus and back of the throat (including the base of the tongue and tonsils).

2. HPV vaccination is preventing cancer-causing infections and genital warts. Since HPV vaccination was introduced over 10 years ago, HPV infections have dropped signi­ficantly. Infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 71% among teen girls.

3. HPV vaccination is safe. More than 270 million doses have been distributed around the world since 2006, and safety studies continue to show that HPV vaccination is very safe. All vaccines can have potential side effects, but reactions caused by the HPV vaccine have been mostly mild and like those of other vaccines.

4. HPV vaccination continues to protect.  HPV vaccines offer long-lasting protection against HPV infection and cancers caused by HPV. There has been no evidence to suggest that HPV vaccine loses any ability to provide protection over time. Data are available for about 10 years of follow-up after vaccination.

5. HPV vaccination is usually covered. Most health insurance covers the cost of the HPV vaccine for the recommended age groups. The HPV vaccine is also part of federal programs for both children and adults who do not have insurance so that they can receive the vaccine at no cost. 

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 6 Reasons to Get HPV Vaccine for Your Child. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/infographics/vacc-six-reasons.html)