Collaborative Effort to Prevent HPV Cancers

According to the American Cancer Society, the best way to prevent HPV infections and cancers is to get vaccinated. Nearly two decades have passed since the FDA approved the vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV). When given to children between ages 9-12, the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of six types of cancers by over 90 percent. This vaccine has proven to be extremely safe and effective at preventing HPV infections and cancers.

Despite its proven effectiveness, this vaccine is severely underutilized in our community. Under 30 percent of 13-year-olds in Suffolk and Nassau counties have completed the series as of 2022.

Community Outreach and Engagement’s Mission
In service of Stony Brook Cancer Center’s goal of reducing our community’s cancer burden, the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is committed to the prevention of HPV cancers through the promotion of HPV vaccination. That’s the reason the COE partnered with Pediatric Primary Care at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital to support their efforts in HPV vaccination uptake.

Through support from the American Cancer Society’s National Cohort of HPV Vaccine Quality Improvement, the COE worked with Stony Brook Children’s to implement evidenced-based vaccination uptake interventions, which included:

• Education of all providers and staff about HPV vaccination best practices, including starting at age 9
• Patient education materials, created by the COE, distributed to parents of unvaccinated children in the recommended age range upon inclusion of patient education materials into the electronic medical record
• Vaccination orders added to Well Child Check Power Plans for patients ages 9 and above

Lauren Ng, DO, FAAP, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, and a pediatrician at Stony Brook Children’s, has spearheaded these efforts, which have now been implemented across all seven Pediatric Primary Care locations.

“Our goal of starting HPV vaccination at age 9 is to eradicate HPV strains that cause cancer,” says Dr. Ng. “As a pediatrician, I start the conversation when our patients turn 9, educating parents and providing resources about HPV vaccination. We want our patients to be protected against HPV prior to any exposure to the virus and starting at age 9 helps us do that. The HPV vaccine is our best defense against HPV cancers.”

The COE continues to support our community in defending against preventable cancers.
To learn more or get involved, contact us at: 

VISIT  COE Website
EMAIL COE@stonybrookmedicine.edu
CALL (631) 444-4COE or (631) 444-4263