Taking steps to slow the upswing in oral and pharyngeal cancers

Address parental concerns, including these 5 false beliefs

One study found 5 major false beliefs parents hold about HPV vaccine⁹:

1. Vaccination is not effective at preventing cancer.
2. Pap smears are sufficient to prevent cervical cancer.
3. HPV vaccination is not safe.
4. HPV vaccination is not needed since most infections are naturally cleared by the immune system.
5. Eleven to 12 years of age is too young to vaccinate.

There is some evidence that if clinicians actively engage with parents about these concerns and address them head on, same-day vaccination rates can improve.¹⁰

We can expect to see HPV-associated OPC decline in the coming years due to the delayed effects on cancer incidence by the HPV vaccine. These anticipated declines will be more dramatic if we can increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine.