Earlier this year, the Washington State Immunization Information System within the Department of Health (DOH) updated its guidance to recommend administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine starting at age 9. Previous guidance had recommended HPV vaccination beginning at ages 11-12 years. However, the shift to age 9 is recommended by the American Cancer Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, Washington State Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the DOH.

As oropharyngeal cancer has seen an increase in recent years, dental providers play an important role in educating their patients. Adolescent patients tend to see a dental provider twice per year, which may be more often than they see their primary care provider. This presents an opportunity for dentists to promote HPV vaccination by counseling parents of children 9 years and older about the HPV vaccine and HPV’s link to oral cancer. When parents are ready to get their child vaccinated for HPV, dentists should refer patients to their primary care provider or their local health jurisdiction.  

Questions?

The ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, April 27 at 10:00 AM PST which will cover, among other things, strategies to promote HPV vaccination. Attendees are able to receive one CE credit, and interested members can register for the webinar here.

Finally, the DOH has put together the following resources and toolkit, which include materials in a variety of languages:

• Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination: An Action Guide for Dental Health Care Providers (hpvroundtable.org)
• HPV Long Lasting Protection - Flyer (wa.gov)
• Why Age 9? Fact Sheet - National HPV Roundtable
• Preventing HPV at the Dentist - Toolkit