MHP Public Health Encourages Parents to Vaccinate Children Against HPV
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership joins the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) in a new effort focused on improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among Iowa’s teens and pre-teens.
“Approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and around 14 million people become newly infected each year,” MHP Public Health Coordinator Patty Malloy explained. “In most cases, HPV infection will go away and the individual will never know they had it. However, when HPV does not go away, it can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical cancer. Parents are encouraged to take action now to protect their child or children against HPV infection.”
According to the IDPH, approximately 33,000 HPV-associated cancers occur annually in the U.S., including 12,600 HPV-associated cancers in males. “The vaccine is recommended for both males and females beginning at age 11 or 12,” Malloy explained. “The vaccine works best if given in early adolescence, allowing time for your child to receive all three doses and develop immunity as he or she gets older.”
The HPV vaccine protects against the most common types of human papillomavirus, which are responsible for approximately 90 percent of cervical cancers. Cancer often takes years to develop after a person is infected with HPV and an infected individual can spread the virus even when he or she has no signs or symptoms.
“The HPV vaccine is safe and effective,” Malloy explained. “Over 40 million doses of the vaccine have been administered since 2006 and no serious safety concerns have developed. You can get this vaccine along with other regular immunizations from your primary care provider. It’s a quick and easy way to help protect your child from many HPV-related complications.”
MHP Public Health is now offering HPV vaccines to VFC participants; call 641.673.3257. If you would like to bill your insurance, call 641.672.3360 to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider in the MHP Medical Group.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, look us up on the web: mahaskahealth.org.
