HPV Working Group
The HPV Working Group is committed to protecting the future health of today’s youth by bringing together a diverse group of people with an interest in promoting uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Current vaccines against HPV are safe and effective for preventing infection with this common virus that can cause six types of cancer. Vaccination is currently recommended for boys and girls at ages 11 or 12 years and can be given up to age 26 years. For those who receive their first dose before 15 years of age, only two doses are needed. Despite the promise of this vaccine, most Connecticut adolescents are still not vaccinated as recommended nearly ten years after the vaccine’s FDA approval.
Our goal is to develop and implement evidence-based strategies to improve HPV vaccination uptake and decrease the burden of HPV-related diseases in Connecticut. To achieve this goal, the HPV Working Group brings together researchers and other stakeholders who are committed to addressing the problem of low HPV vaccine uptake. Current projects include research efforts to understand barriers to HPV vaccine uptake, surveillance projects to monitor HPV vaccine impact, and intervention development to increase coverage.
Sources of support for our work include the National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CT Emerging Infections Program), the Yale Cancer Center, and the Robert E. Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust Fellowship Program in Clinical Research.