Why We Believe the HPV Vaccine Is Vital to the District's Health

The District is frequently the subject of criticism for the deplorable state of health outcomes among our residents, and rightly so. For years, District policymakers have been content with a system that offers our residents the shortest life expectancy in the nation. In fact, our residents die from diseases such as cancer, heart disease and HIV-AIDS at among the highest rates in the country.

Complacency will not reverse these realities. We must have an aggressive public health strategy.

To this end, we co-authored the HPV Vaccination and Reporting Act of 2007 to combat cervical cancer, which is caused by the human papillomavirus. We are motivated by the fact that the District's rate of cervical cancer is also the highest in the nation and that, according to the D.C. Cancer Coalition, nearly 92 percent of all invasive cervical cancer cases occur among minority women. Fortunately, a new scientific breakthrough has introduced a vaccine against the most deadly types of HPV.

Under our legislation, parents or legal guardians of girls entering sixth grade would be required to submit certification that the child has received the HPV vaccine or that the parent or guardian has decided to opt out of the requirement. While we strongly endorse the use of the vaccine, this decision rests ultimately with parents and guardians.

We based our proposal on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which recommends the HPV vaccine for 11- to 12-year-old girls. (A vaccine for boys is under development.) To maximize its effectiveness, the vaccine must be administered before girls become sexually active. If done then, it is nearly 100 percent successful at preventing the four types of HPV responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.

The HPV vaccine -- which has been tested in more than 11,000 females globally without serious side effects -- is the first major breakthrough in preventing cervical cancer since the introduction of the Pap test in the 1940s. However, it is not a replacement for this procedure. A routine Pap test remains absolutely essential to guard against cervical cancer caused by the types of HPV that the vaccine does not prevent. As a government, we also need to continue to educate our health-care providers on the necessity of promoting and accurately administering the Pap test. We should focus special attention on promoting the Pap test among our immigrant women, who frequently come from countries with high rates of cervical cancer and poor access to health care.

Our legislation is a small but critical component in a larger strategy of combating cancer and other illnesses that afflict our residents. The District government is implementing a number of exciting initiatives that will transform our health outcomes. This year alone the District will enroll thousands of additional children in our expanded Medicaid and Alliance programs, provide comprehensive dental benefits to approximately 60,000 adult Medicaid recipients for the first time in our history, and nearly double the resources for our school health program.

Our city has the resources, talent and leadership to enhance and prolong the lives of our residents. However, complacency will not bring this about.

-- David A. Catania -- Mary M. Cheh

Washington

David Catania (dcatania@dccouncil.us) is an independent at-large D.C. Council member. Mary Cheh (mcheh@dccouncil.us) is a Democrat who represents Ward 3 on the council.