The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Association of American Cancer Institutes, and American Cancer Society have partnered to establish the HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion Award to recognize leaders in health care who have demonstrated their commitment to preventing HPV cancers through timely vaccination of adolescents. The HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion Award was established in 2017 to honor clinicians, clinics, practices, groups, and health systems that are going above and beyond to foster HPV vaccination in their community. Up to one Champion from each of the 50 U.S. states, 8 U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia are eligible to be recognized. This year, the program is honoring champions from 25 states for their efforts to achieve high HPV vaccination rates.

NACCHO is pleased to note that a local health department in Ohio is among this year’s awardees! The Cincinnati Health Department has implemented several practice changes, including assessment and reminder/recall strategies, to increase HPV vaccination rates within its health centers. Additionally, the Cincinnati Health Department has collaborated with the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to conduct peer-to-peer Teen Immunization Education Sessions (TIES) within the health centers and private practices, as well as they have conducted extensive efforts to educate the wider community about the importance of HPV vaccine. For its role in promoting HPV vaccination within its own health centers and throughout Hamilton County, the Cincinnati Health Department is Ohio’s 2019 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion! NACCHO is honored to congratulate the Cincinnati Health Department on this well-deserved award and applaud the work being done there!

HPV vaccine is important because it protects against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a very common virus; nearly 80 million people are currently infected in the United States. Every year in the United States, 33,700 women and men are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90% of these cancers—about 31,000—from occurring. It is for this reason that all vaccine providers are strongly encouraged to recommend the HPV vaccine the same way, the same day!