The Upshot: The HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention, Get Your Flu Shot, and more

Texas Health and Human Services Commission sent this bulletin at 01/18/2023 03:00 PM CST / Este e-mail ha sido enviado por Texas Health and Human Services Commission el 01/18/2023 03:00 PM CST

(continued from above) The HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention

HPV is responsible for 91% of cervical cancer cases in the United States. Although cervical cancer is preventable through regular screening and vaccination, there were approximately 14,100 new cases of cervical cancer in the United States in 2022.

HPV is spread from skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity with someone who has it. The most commonly noticeable symptom developed from an HPV infection is genital warts. However, most people with HPV develop no symptoms, so it can be difficult to detect. An abnormal result from a Pap smear test, a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women, may be the first sign that a woman has the virus. While screening can detect early signs of cervical cancer, other cancers caused by HPV do not have recommended screenings.

The HPV vaccine, known as Gardasil 9, is the best way to protect against infection from the strains of HPV that are most harmful. Data shows that HPV infections, genital warts, and cervical precancers have considerably decreased since the vaccine has been in use in the United States.

The HPV vaccine can help protect children against 6 types of cancer later in life:

Cancers of the cervix, throat, vagina, vulva, and anus in females
Cancers of the throat, penis, and anus in males

For the best protection against HPV related cancers, early vaccination is recommended. The CDC's recommendations for HPV vaccine use are as follows:

HPV vaccination is recommended for boys and girls at ages 11-12. HPV vaccines can be given starting at age 9. The CDC recommends that 11-12-year-olds receive two doses of HPV vaccine 6 to 12 months apart.
Teens and young adults who start the series later, at ages 15-26, need three doses of HPV vaccine.
Vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26. Speak with your doctor to see if the vaccine is right for you.

The Upshot

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Despite the benefits of getting vaccinated, adolescents in Texas are less likely than their peers to be vaccinated against HPV. In the United States and the District of Columbia, Texas ranks 47^th out of all states terms of up-to-date HPV vaccination. According to the 2021 National Immunization Survey (NIS) – Teen, only 51.5% of adolescents ages 13-17 in Texas have completed the HPV vaccine series, compared to the U.S. average of 61.7%. These levels fall short of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 goal:80% of girls ages 13-15-year-old in the United States fully vaccinated against HPV.

Raising awareness that the HPV vaccine can prevent cancer is important for increasing HPV vaccine coverage amongst adolescents in Texas and the rest of the United States. When you vaccinate your child at the recommended age, you help protect them from HPV infections that can cause cancer later in life. If you have questions about HPV and the HPV vaccine, talk to your child’s doctor.

Get Your Flu Shot

As we ring in the New Year, it’s important to remember that if you never received your flu shot last year, it’s not too late! While ideally everyone should be vaccinated for the flu by the end of October, if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended. That’s because the flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May.

Flu vaccine coverage rates have been low the past few years. According to data from the NIS Flu survey, constant decline in flu coverage rates were observed from 2019 to 2022 for almost all age groups. Most importantly, the youngest pediatric age group (6 months to 4 years) saw the largest decline in flu coverage rates. Although coverage rates have recently increased there is still lots of room for improvement.

The youngest and oldest populations are the most vulnerable and susceptible to serious complications from the flu. Therefore, its important to make sure children and older adults get vaccinated. If you have questions or would like to schedule your flu shot, contact your local health care provider.

Important reminders and resources from the CDC:

While everyone is strongly encouraged to receive the flu vaccine, it is especially important for high-risk individuals.
The flu vaccine can be co-administered with the COVID-19 vaccine.
There are lots of misconceptions about the flu vaccine. Review CDC Guidance for accurate information.

Techniques for preventing the spread of flu:

Stay home from school or work when you feel sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Wash your hands often.
Clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, handles, and keyboards.

For more information on the latest flu coverage rates and important flu vaccine resources, visit the CDC flu webpage.

Let’s Learn More About mRNA Vaccines

mRNA Vaccines Have a Long History Behind Them

Although the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were developed in what seems like record time, the reality is that more than 50 years of research went into the development of these mRNA vaccines.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, was first discovered in 1961. By the 1970s, scientists understood how to transport mRNA into human cells using a lipid-based delivery system. These technological breakthroughs, along with other advances in vaccine technology, paved the way for the speedy deployment of COVID-19 vaccines when it mattered most. With increases in resources and funding for vaccine development brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, scientists and manufactures successfully developed the first FDA approved mRNA vaccine.

How Does the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Work?

All vaccines help protect against certain diseases by triggering a response in the immune system. Most vaccines contain a small amount of a weakened or “killed virus” that imitates an infection and prompts your body to create antibodies. These antibodies protect you from illness if you’re exposed to those germs in the future.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines differ from other vaccines because they do not contain the virus at all. Instead, they use a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) that provides your body with instructions on how to make a piece of the protein from the virus that causes COVID-19. Your cells use the instructions to create the protein, and once protein production is complete, the cells quickly break down the mRNA. While these proteins are not harmful and can’t make you sick, your body is able to recognize that they don’t belong in your system.

As a response, your immune system makes antibodies to destroy the proteins. Antibodies are proteins that protect you from infection from a virus or a pathogen. They bind to these unwanted substances and remove them from the body. Once created, antibodies remain in the body, even after they have done their job to eliminate a pathogen. This is beneficial because if you are ever exposed to the same virus again, your antibodies will quickly recognize it and destroy the virus before it can cause serious illness. This is how the mRNA vaccine protects you from getting and spreading COVID-19.

The Future of mRNA Technology

Due to decades of research and scientific progress, mRNA vaccines have saved countless lives. Researchers are now studying how mRNA might be used to develop vaccines for other diseases.

For more information about mRNA vaccines visit the links below:

Vaccination Coverage in Texas Schools

Immunization School Coverage Rates are determined by data collected from the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) Annual Report of Immunization Status (ARIS). As required by state law, the report is to be completed each year for all public and accredited private schools in Texas. The annual report, conducted by the school or district, provides statewide vaccination coverage levels for required vaccines for students enrolled in kindergarten and 7^th grade.

Submitting immunization data allows for DSHS staff to carefully monitor vaccine compliance rates throughout the state of Texas. It is also important to note that the coverage levels reported exclude students being home schooled or attending non-accredited private schools, as these levels lack to represent vaccination rates for the state of Texas or its public health regions. Facilities that fail to submit a report may be subject to auditing.

The Annual Report of Immunization Status is published annually online at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/coverage/schools/ and can only be submitted online at: https://artximmunize.com/Login.aspx. For additional information about immunization requirements or this report, please contact the DSHS Immunization Unit at (800) 252-9152 or email at: chrs.loginhelp@dshs.texas.gov.

COVID-19 Booster Update

On December 8, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization of Pfizer and Moderna’s Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine products to include use in children six months through five years of age. This was subsequently endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the following day.

Bivalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (6 months through 5 years)
Children 6 months through 5 years of age who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster dose 2 months after their final primary series dose.

Bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine (6 months through 4 years)
Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have not yet completed their three-dose Pfizer primary series, will receive the bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as their third primary dose.

However, children 6 months through 4 years of age who have already completed their three-dose primary series with the monovalent Pfizer- COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible for a Pfizer bivalent booster at this time.

Additional Resources:

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