Cervical Cancer Prevention Starts Here: HPV Vaccine Facts You Can Trust

By Kyle Minnis, Cervivor Communications Assistant

The United States, along with much of the world, is at a pivotal moment in cancer prevention. Various studies show that use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine—which can prevent over 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer—is falling. If the trend continues, more children and families will face potentially life-threatening cancer diagnoses that could be avoided.

The numbers speak for themselves: According to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) most recent National Immunization Survey, only 78% of U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 17 have received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and fewer than 63% are up to date on the full series. This is significantly below the national Healthy People 2030 goal of 80% two-dose completion among adolescents aged 13 to 15. Recent data suggests the pandemic has widened gaps in vaccine uptake and fueled vaccine hesitancy.

Globally, approximately 31% of eligible girls have received at least one dose, though the percentage fully completing the recommended series falls well short of the World Health Organization (WHO) cervical cancer elimination target of 90% completion by age 15. The disease still claims the lives of nearly 400,000 people with a cervix worldwide each year.

As vaccine misinformation floods social media, parents and young adults encounter more conflicting messages than ever. Meanwhile, research infrastructure is under threat. In March 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) terminated all funded research on vaccine hesitancy and uptake, telling scientists: “This award no longer effectuates agency priorities.”

“Watching the headlines and talking to experts in the field, we know this is a critical time,” says cervical cancer survivor Tamika Felder, Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary and co-chair of the American Cancer Society’s National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. “Respected scientists are being dismissed. Research is being defunded. ‘Vaccine’ has become an even more loaded word. And decades of hard-earned progress are at risk.”

*Cervivor Founder Tamika (center) addresses the audience at the 2025 National HPV Conference, a key gathering for leaders in HPV prevention.*

For Cervivor Ambassador Zuli Garcia, who will mark her second cancer-versary this November, the issue is deeply personal. As a 2024 Cervivor School graduate and founder of Knock and Drop Iowa, she advocates for underserved families who often face barriers to timely HPV cancer prevention. “I’m living proof of what happens when access comes too late,” says Zuli, who was diagnosed at age 47. “The HPV vaccine represents hope, protection, and equity.”

To cut through the noise and offer clear, trustworthy HPV vaccine facts during National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), we’ve gathered insights from survivors and leading experts. What follows is a breakdown of the most essential information about the HPV vaccine—and why it’s needed to protect future generations from preventable cancers.

Why HPV Vaccination Matters More Than Ever

Every major health authority agrees: The HPV vaccine saves lives from cervical cancer and five other HPV-related cancers—including anal, throat, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Among teen girls, infections with the HPV types that cause most cancers have dropped by 88%, while infections among young women have dropped by 81%, according to a 2024 CDC report. Additionally, among vaccinated women, cervical precancers caused by high-risk HPV types have declined by 40%, with some studies showing up to 80% reductions in high-grade lesions among those vaccinated early.

In countries like Australia and Sweden—thanks to widespread vaccination and strong screening programs—HPV is close to being eliminated as a cause of cervical cancer.

Dr. Heather Brandt, director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stresses both the progress made and the work still ahead. “Here we are after almost 20 years of the vaccination being available and still working to make sure people understand how HPV vaccination protects against these diseases,” she says. She recalls feeling “such excitement” at the 2002 International Papillomavirus Conference when early trial results showed the vaccine could prevent HPV-related diseases, pre-cancers, cancers, genital warts, and even recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Today, after more than 15 years and over 500 million doses given worldwide, the vaccine’s safety record remains excellent. Serious side effects are extremely rare, and most reactions are mild, such as temporary soreness or fever. Real-world studies confirm that protection lasts at least 12 years—and likely much longer.

Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine and When?

Everyone—regardless of gender—should get the HPV vaccine. Here are the latest immunization guidelines:

The ideal time to start is between ages 11 and 12, though it can be given as early as age 9 for maximum protection.
If the first dose is given before age 15, only two doses are needed.
For those starting later or who are immunocompromised, a three-dose series is recommended.
Catch-up vaccination is advised through age 26, and adults up to age 45 may still benefit based on individual risk and guidance from their healthcare provider.

The following infographic provides additional information on when and why the vaccine is so important for saving lives from preventable cancers.

While insurance coverage for older teens and adults varies, several states—including Washington D.C., Virginia, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, plus Puerto Rico—have implemented school-entry requirements for the HPV vaccine. These policies significantly boost community-wide protection.

“HPV affects everyone—men and women—and the vaccine is about cancer prevention, not lifestyle choices,” says a spokesperson from Vaccinate Your Family, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about timely immunizations. Its current #FirstDayVax campaign aligns with CDC recommendations to bundle the HPV vaccine with other routine back-to-school shots, like Tdap and meningitis.

Common HPV Vaccine Myths—and How to Address Them

Across the U.S.—especially in rural and conservative communities—misinformation and stigma are stalling progress. Rising non-medical exemptions, often fueled by online disinformation, threaten decades of gains for all vaccines, not just HPV. Without research and infrastructure support, public health programs are left without the tools they need to respond.

As Vaccinate Your Family warns: “Parents are increasingly exposed to false vaccine claims online, where algorithms and bots amplify misleading content and make anti-vaccine rhetoric appear as credible as scientific consensus.”

Even parents who support vaccines can be swayed. Kellie Defelice, a Cervivor Ambassador, shares: “I was very pro-vaccine. But after reading a story online, I hesitated and turned down the HPV vaccine for my daughter. I regretted that decision when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer.” Her hope for fellow moms: “They see that I’m the real face of what HPV does—it isn’t just an STI. I risked my daughter getting a cancer that has destroyed so much for me.”

Other common myths include:

“The HPV vaccine is just for girls.” In fact, HPV affects everyone. Anal cancer rates in both men and women have been rising, with new cases increasing by about 2.2% per year over the past decade, according to the American Cancer Society. While men may not get cervical cancer, they can still contract and spread high-risk HPV strains.
“The vaccine encourages promiscuity.” Zuli explains that some parents worry the vaccine is a “permission slip for sex.” But as Vaccinate Your Family counters, “Vaccination does not change behavior—it simply protects against cancer-causing infections.”
“The vaccine isn’t necessary until kids are sexually active.” In reality, the vaccine works best before HPV exposure, which is why health organizations now recommend it for children as young as 9 years old.

How to Get Back on Track with HPV Vaccination Targets

Survivors and experts are pushing back against misinformation with evidence, stories, and culturally relevant outreach. Zuli says: “As a survivor, I’ll keep raising my voice until every child, every family, and every community has access to this protection.”

A review of nearly 60 studies conducted between 2006 and 2019 found that strong provider recommendations are among the most important—if not the most important—drivers of vaccine uptake, underscoring the need to equip health professionals with confidence and clarity in vaccine conversations.

Community partnerships also make a difference. In Memphis, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program helped boost county vaccination rates by 19%, outpacing national averages. In Iowa, Zuli’s team at Knock and Drop Iowa combines bilingual education with on-site vaccinations—reaching 23 people in a single afternoon, she reports. “Meeting people where they are is what works,” Zuli explains. “Education first, vaccines immediately after, in a trusted setting.”

*Cervivor Ambassador Zuli Garcia hosts an HPV vaccine outreach event in her home state of Iowa.*

Vaccinate Your Family echoes this approach: “Conversations about vaccines should always start with empathy, not judgment. Questions about safety, side effects, or the need for certain vaccines are natural—and families should look to trusted, science-based sources.”

St. Jude’s Dr. Brandt highlights new “compelling” research: “Through our work…we have been discussing the implications of possible changes to the dosing schedule with partners. I know all of us are incredibly excited about the prospect of moving to a single dose in the U.S.”

She also offers caution: “We previously leaned in on the rigor of the FDA-approval processes for childhood vaccinations and then review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Key changes to these entities may call into question the science. Changes in dosing with any gaps in evidence become fodder for purveyors of misinformation.”

Ultimately, cancer prevention shouldn’t be controversial—it should be celebrated. By recommitting to science, survivor voices, and trusted outreach, we can ensure every person has the chance to thrive, free from preventable cancers.

If you found this blog post helpful, please share it with friends or family members of recommended vaccination age. You may just save a life.

About the Author

The image is a portrait of a young man with dark skin and short, curly black hair. He is wearing a blue collared shirt and black-framed glasses, and is smiling at the camera.
The man has dark skin and short, curly black hair.
His hair is cut close to his head, with a slight fade at the sides.
His eyebrows are thick and well-groomed.
He is wearing a blue collared shirt.
The shirt is a medium blue color and appears to be made of a lightweight material.
It has a relaxed fit and is buttoned up to the top.
He is also wearing black-framed glasses.
The frames are rectangular in shape and have a subtle curve at the temples.
The lenses are clear and do not appear to have any tint or coating.
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Kyle Minnis is a senior studying Strategic Communications at the University of Kansas. He is currently serving as Cervivor’s Communications Assistant.

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025

Pride and Prevention: Breaking Down Barriers to Cervical Cancer Care for LGBTQIA+ Communities

By Kyle Minnis, Cervivor Communications Intern

Today, an estimated one million LGBTQIA+ cancer survivors live in the United States—a fraction of the nation’s nearly 19 million survivors. But behind that number lies an alarming reality: Queer and trans individuals face higher rates of late-stage diagnoses, limited access to screening, lower insurance coverage, and deep-rooted mistrust in the medical system. Experts warn these disparities may worsen before they improve.

At Cervivor, Inc., we believe every cervix matters. This Pride Month, we’re shining a light on the barriers queer and trans individuals face in accessing cervical cancer care—and how we can work together to break them down. (Missed part one of the series? Read the powerful stories of four courageous Cervivor Pride community members.)

Mounting Setbacks in LGBTQIA+ Cancer Care Access

Over the past year, federal datasets on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) have quietly been removed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) websites, setting back critical research and advocacy efforts. Carter Steger, Vice President at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), calls the change “unclear and alarming.”

The setbacks go beyond data. Dr. Mandi Pratt-Chapman, a leading LGBTQIA+ health researcher at the George Washington University Cancer Center, reports that all National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded LGBTQIA+ research grants—including her own—have been terminated. “We can’t just flip the switch back on,” she warns. “The infrastructure has already been dismantled.”

At the same time, state-level legislation is emboldening discrimination in healthcare. The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Skrmetti upheld states’ rights to deny gender-affirming care to minors, raising broader concerns about refusals of service.

“Before this immense backlash on LGBTQIA+ civil rights, we were finally making progress,” says Dr. Pratt-Chapman. “As a society, we collectively said—you are part of our community! Now, that message of inclusion and protection—indeed, actual protection—is being torn away in a deliberately hurtful and terrifying way.”

Safe Spaces Are Shrinking—and Medical Mistrust Is Growing

According to ACS CAN’s latest Survivor Views survey, 58% of LGBTQ+ cancer patients fear the current political climate could directly impact their access to care. Nearly half worry that providers may consider it “too risky” to treat them due to state laws.

Cervivor Pride lead Karen North puts it bluntly: “I’m scared. They’re coming for people like me—my identity, my rights.”

Cervivor Ambassador Gilma Pereda, whose adult daughter is a trans woman, shares similar fears: “Being a transgender young woman and neurodivergent is a very bad combo in today’s political climate. I’m terrified. We have a plan B—moving to Mexico City, where I’m from, for universal healthcare. She’s not on board yet, but it’s our last resort.”

**Karen with her “chemo blanket” during treatment.**

This anxiety is becoming more common. “People are trying to move to blue states or Europe,” says Dr. Scout, Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. “We’re watching our safe spaces and experts disappear before our eyes.”

Even in well-meaning systems, barriers persist. Intake forms often lack inclusive options for sexual orientation and gender identity. Most medical students receive fewer than five hours of LGBTQIA+ health education in their entire training. And in response to political pressure, some hospitals have quietly removed LGBTQIA+-affirming content from their websites to avoid backlash or funding threats.

The result? Deepening medical mistrust. “For too many of us, the core issue is not knowing whether a provider will treat us with dignity,” says Dr. Scout. “The simple fix is for more providers to make that clear—somewhere visible—so we can get past the mistrust and through the door.”

This fear often leads to skipped care. Lesbians without trusted OB-GYNs are less likely to get screenings like Pap tests or mammograms. Transgender men may avoid gynecologic care entirely.

But small signals of safety can make a big difference. A name tag with pronouns. A “You’re Safe With Me” sign. According to Dr. Scout, LGBTQIA+ patients are nearly seven times more likely to rate their care as “very good” when they see visible signs that their identity will be respected.

Gilma highlights “small but meaningful changes” she’s seen at her healthcare provider in progressive California. “The clinic I go to used to be called the ‘Women’s Clinic,’ but now it says ‘Gynecology and Obstetrics,’” she says. (The word “women” can be triggering for many trans men and LGBTQIA+ patients.) “I also remember a sign at reception that said something like, ‘If you don’t feel comfortable waiting in this room, please let us know and we’ll move you.’ I wish I had taken a picture—it really stood out to me.”

The Financial Cost of Care

For many queer and trans people, even seeking healthcare comes with roadblocks—starting with insurance. According to the Cancer Network, LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to have health coverage, often because employers don’t extend benefits to unmarried domestic partners. This gap is even wider for transgender individuals, who have the lowest insurance coverage rates of any group.

Even with insurance, coverage is not guaranteed. Transgender patients may be denied access to gender-relevant care—such as Pap tests for trans men with a cervix—if it doesn’t match the gender on their insurance card. These mismatches can delay or deny vital screenings.

Gilma knows just how rare affirming, comprehensive care can be. “We’re very privileged to have Kaiser [in the Bay Area],” she says, noting how her daughter was able to update her name and gender in the system and receive respectful care. “That’s not the case everywhere.”

Women in same-sex relationships face similar challenges. They’re less likely to have a regular healthcare provider, often citing cost as a barrier—leading to lower screening rates for mammograms, Pap tests, and colonoscopies, which raises the risk of late-stage diagnoses.

Government safety nets like Medicaid help fill these gaps, but even they’re under threat. “When I got cervical cancer, I was on Medicaid,” says Karen. “That’s what allowed me to get treatment. If Medicaid cuts continue—if the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program goes away—that’s terrifying. That program saved my life.”

Karen is referring to the 30-year-old public health initiative that has provided life-saving screenings to women with low incomes and limited insurance. Now, that vital lifeline is at risk. Dr. Pratt-Chapman echoes the concern, warning that proposed cuts could also eliminate federal cancer registries—undermining efforts to prevent cancer and catch it early.

Despite these threats, a legal win offers a glimmer of hope. In the recent APHA v. NIH case, U.S. District Judge William G. Young of Massachusetts deemed the Trump administration’s termination of hundreds of NIH research grants “arbitrary and capricious,” and therefore “void and illegal.” He stated these cuts “represent racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community,” ordering the restoration of nearly $3.8 billion across 367 affected projects for the time being.

Building a New Kind of Safety Net

Even as the landscape grows more fractured and unpredictable, people are still planting new flags—big, bold, rainbow ones.

Organizations like ACS CAN and the Cancer Network are strongly advocating for inclusive legislation. This includes the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA), which would require the collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in federal health surveys, and the Equality Act, which would explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics across all sectors, including healthcare.

*ACS CAN’s LGBTQIA+ and Allies Engagement Group*

These policy fights are being matched by boots-on-the-ground action. ACS CAN’s LGBTQIA+ & Allies Engagement Group supports strategy development, educates advocates, and ensures queer visibility in campaigns and Pride events. In 2025, the organization will appear at more than 60 Pride events across 32 states.

The group also recently hosted a virtual screening of Trans Dudes with Lady Cancer, a powerful documentary following two transmasculine individuals navigating breast and ovarian cancer care, sparking dialogue about gender, inclusion, and systemic change.

Training efforts are also expanding. GW Cancer Center’s TEAM training offers free, online education for healthcare providers looking to improve LGBTQIA+ cancer care, and a new version, TEAM SGM, aims to provide a deeper dive for oncology-specific scenarios. The Cancer Network also provides Welcoming Spaces training, helping providers build physical and emotional environments where patients feel respected, affirmed, and safe.

Take Action: Stand With the LGBTQIA+ Cancer Community

This is a critical moment. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should the systems designed to help us survive it.

The challenges are real, but they are not insurmountable—and they are not going unnoticed.

“I want to be in that group of people,” says Dr. Pratt-Chapman. “The ones history celebrates for standing up when it got hard. Hate shrinks the world. Love is expansive. Love brings life.”

What can you do?

Contact your elected officials today to protect and expand funding for cancer research, Medicaid, and programs like the Early Detection Program. Take action at act.fightcancer.org.
Encourage local clinics and hospitals to provide LGBTQIA+ cultural competency training. Providers can join programs like TEAM or Welcoming Spaces.
If you’re a patient or survivor, share your story—you never know who needs to hear it.

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