By Cervivor Communications Director Sara Lyle-Ingersoll
Twenty years ago, the HPV vaccine changed the future of cancer prevention. It now protects against six HPV-related cancers: cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers.
Yet scientific progress alone isn’t enough.
While the nation’s Healthy People 2030 initiative has set a goal of 80% of adolescents completing the HPV vaccine series, only about 62% of U.S. teens are currently up to date. Coverage varies widely across the country, with some states reporting fewer than half of adolescents completing the series.
As National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) highlights the lifesaving impact of vaccines, public confidence in immunization is being tested by misinformation, growing distrust, and legal challenges to evidence-based vaccine recommendations.
For 25-year cervical cancer survivor and Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, safeguarding the next generation is personal.
“When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, there wasn’t a vaccine that could have prevented what happened to me,” she says. “Today’s young people have that opportunity. Protecting that progress means making sure families have access to accurate information, trusted guidance, and the confidence to choose prevention.”
That commitment extends to public policy. Last month, Cervivor joined dozens of leading medical, public health, and patient advocacy organizations in signing an amicus brief in the federal lawsuit American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy, supporting evidence-based vaccine recommendations and the scientific integrity of the nation’s immunization policies.
For National Immunization Awareness Month, we asked HPV cancer survivors, physicians, and public health leaders a simple but urgent question: How do we build trust in the HPV vaccine?
The Evidence Has Never Been Stronger
In countries with high HPV vaccination rates, the impact is unmistakable. A landmark 2026 study from England found that cervical cancer deaths among young women offered the HPV vaccine at ages 12 to 13 had fallen close to zero.
Here in the U.S., researchers continue to document declines in cervical precancers and HPV infections among vaccinated generations. A recent June 2026 clinical trial of adults treated for anal or vulvar precancer reinforced what scientists already know: Early vaccination is one of our strongest tools for preventing HPV-related cancers.
However, despite decades of compelling evidence, misinformation continues to circulate online. A 2024 study found that HPV vaccine misinformation tends to cluster around four themes:
- Safety concerns
- Claims that the vaccine is unnecessary or that “natural” approaches are sufficient
- Conspiracy theories
- Distrust of medical authorities
Dr. Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer of the Association of Immunization Managers, has heard them all.
“We have been using the HPV vaccine to prevent HPV-related cancers for more than 20 years,” she says. “Vaccines undergo more safety monitoring than any other medical product in the United States, and the HPV vaccine has been used in more than 80 countries. Our safety monitoring systems continue to watch for even rare safety signals, and the HPV vaccine has proven to be extremely safe.”
When people argue that natural immunity is better than vaccination, she offers a perspective that’s difficult to forget.
“The immune response the vaccine creates is natural. The vaccine teaches our immune system to recognize the virus and eliminate it before it can go on to cause cancer,” she says. “What isn’t natural is the surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation needed to treat these cancers after they become established.”
Trust is the Missing Ingredient
If the evidence supporting HPV vaccination is stronger than ever, why do misinformation and misconceptions continue to gain traction?
No one understands that challenge better than physician, healthcare technology leader, and best-selling author Dr. Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA. In her book, Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness, she examines why misinformation spreads.
“Facts matter enormously,” she says. “But facts alone do not create trust. When someone is frightened or feels dismissed, presenting more data can sometimes make them feel as though we are arguing with them rather than listening to them.”
According to Dr. Nayyar, people don’t evaluate health information in a vacuum. Their experiences, beliefs, and trust in the messenger shape how they receive new information.
Part of the reason misinformation spreads so easily, she says, is that it rarely looks like misinformation.
“It is often packaged as protection: ‘I’m just asking questions,’ ‘Do your own research,’ or ‘They aren’t telling you the whole story,'” she explains. “That language can be compelling because it offers people a sense of agency while suggesting that trusted institutions are withholding the truth.”
The HPV vaccine presents an additional challenge because it touches on three deeply emotional subjects at once: children, sexuality, and cancer. “We cannot dismiss a parent’s instinct to protect their child,” Dr. Nayyar says. “We have to honor it while helping parents understand that vaccination is itself an act of protection against future cancers.”
From Information to Conversation
For immunization leader Dr. Fiscus, that starts with listening.
“When someone has genuine questions or hesitations about vaccines, I find it’s helpful to ask about the concern and the source of that information,” she says. “If it’s something I’ve heard before, I ask permission to share what I know. If it’s new information, I’ll tell them I understand why it would cause concern and offer to look into it and circle back.”
Dr. Nayyar agrees that people are far more likely to reconsider a belief when they feel respected.
“The goal of every conversation does not have to be immediate agreement. Sometimes the most meaningful outcome is simply leaving the door open. Trust is built through connection, humility, and consistency — not through winning an argument.”
When Survivors Lead, Conversations Change
Statistics tell us what the HPV vaccine can prevent. Survivor stories remind us why prevention matters.
“Survivors and organizations like Cervivor can share compelling stories and facts about the success of the HPV vaccine, not only in the U.S., but around the world,” says Dr. Fiscus. “They can share how much easier it is to prevent HPV-related cancers than to treat them after they have been established.”
For HPV cancer survivor Calvin Nokes, the lesson came the hard way. “For years, whenever HPV was mentioned, it was almost always connected to women and cervical cancer,” he says. “I honestly believed it was something only women had to worry about. No one ever told me men could get HPV.”
Everything changed when he was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2009.
“That’s why I say everywhere I go, ‘Men get HPV, too. Men get HPV-related cancers, too,'” he says. “HPV doesn’t care whether you’re male or female. Boys grow up to become men, and they should be vaccinated, too. We have the opportunity to protect today’s children before they ever face that risk.”
Cervical cancer survivor Athena Porter knows that building trust starts with understanding your audience.
A Cervivor Ambassador, rural Iowa resident, and woman of faith, Athena leads Cervivor’s virtual Bible study. When questions arise about the persistent myth that the HPV vaccine somehow encourages promiscuity, she doesn’t argue. Instead, she gently reframes the conversation.
“A person can be cautious and not engage in sexual relations until they get married,” she says, “but there is no guarantee that their future spouse did the same.”
For Athena, emphasizing that the vaccine is about cancer prevention — not sexual activity — helps families see the issue through a different lens. Since graduating from Cervivor School in 2025, she’s continued bringing that message to her community, including in a recent television interview about the importance of HPV vaccination.
Protecting Progress Starts with Us
The HPV vaccine has already changed the future of cancer prevention. Protecting that progress, however, will require more than scientific breakthroughs. It will take trusted conversations, compassionate listening, and people willing to share their stories.
As Tamika puts it, “Advocacy isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to listen, share your story, and help someone make an informed decision. If one conversation leads to one family choosing cancer prevention, that’s how real change happens.”
Dr. Nayyar offers similar advice for anyone who wants to help build trust: “Begin with curiosity rather than correction. Ask, ‘What concerns you most about the vaccine?’ Then listen without interrupting or judging.”
Here’s how you can help protect progress:
- If you’re a parent or caregiver: Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine. It’s routinely recommended for girls and boys at ages 11 to 12 and can begin as early as age 9.
- If you’re an HPV-related cancer survivor: Your experience has the power to build trust in ways statistics alone cannot. Sharing your story may be the conversation that helps another family choose prevention.
- If you’re ready to advocate: Register for Cervivor’s upcoming Gynecological Cancer Survivors Retreat and Advocacy Training (September 24 to 27) to strengthen your skills, connect with fellow survivors, and help advance HPV vaccination, early detection, and equitable care.
- Wherever you are: Share credible information, lead with empathy, and keep the conversation going. Every respectful discussion is an opportunity to protect someone from an HPV-related cancer.
Because that’s how progress is protected — one conversation, one informed decision, and one less cancer diagnosis at a time.
About the Author
SARA LYLE-INGERSOLL is a content and communications expert dedicated to transforming lived experiences into impactful stories. Her award-winning magazine feature about a close friend who died from cervical cancer in their twenties led her to Cervivor, and solidified her commitment to cervical cancer awareness and prevention. Now, as Cervivor’s Communications Director, Sara brings this mission full circle.
