DC Law and the HPV Vaccine
DC legislation now requires girls entering the 6th Grade to receive the HPV vaccine by September 2009
Did you know that cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)?
A new vaccine which protects against HPV infection and the subsequent development of cervical cancer is now required for girls entering 6th grade in Washington, DC.About HPV
HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that often has no symptoms. It leads to small lesions that can then progress to cervical cancer, which killed 3,924 in the US in 2005 alone according to the CDC.
For additional information on HPV, Cervical Cancer please visit http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine-young-women.htm
There is now an HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots over a 6 month period, with minimal side effects that are similar to the side effects of childhood vaccines.The vaccine is most effective if it is received before sexual activity starts.
DC Legislation
The District of Columbia has one of the highest incidences of HPV in the nation, with a cervical cancer rate of 10.4 per 100,000. To reverse this trend, DC legislation now requires that girls entering the 6th Grade receive the vaccine by September 2009. Community and cancer prevention groups have called for assistance in helping community members understand the process, the form, and the science.
