Through vaccination and screening, cervical cancer is almost completely preventable.  

• HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination can protect against the types of HPV that are the leading cause of cervical cancer.
• Screening tests (pap smears) can detect HPV infection and abnormal cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer.  

How can you help?  

💡 Ensure patients are up to date with immunizations and screenings.     

💡 Share information about VDH’s Every Woman’s Life Program, which helps low-income, uninsured patients access free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostics.

CDC Urges Vaccination and Treatment as Respiratory Illness Cases Climb

CDC recently issued an alert that immunization rates against flu, COVID-19 and RSV are low and that an increase in reported MIS-C cases has been observed since September 2023. Moreover, antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and influenza are currently underused in patients for whom they are indicated.    

CDC urges healthcare providers to take action when appropriate: 

💡 Administer immunizations for flu, COVID-19 and RSV. 

💡 Prescribe antiviral medications for flu and/or COVID-19 for all eligible patients, particularly those who are at high-risk of progression to severe disease. 

For respiratory disease data for Virginia, see the VDH Respiratory Disease Data webpage. 

The CDC conversation guide below can help with conversations with patients about recommended immunizations. 

In a recent CDC Health Alert Network Advisory, five patients with travel to Tecate, Mexico, have been diagnosed with confirmed Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) since July 2023. If you suspect a patient may have RMSF, consider starting them on doxycycline.  

⏱️ Don't delay treatment to wait on lab test results. Early treatment saves lives. 

⤴️ Remind parents that if their child isn't up to date on vaccinations, the winter break is a great time to get caught up!   

• Grade 7 entry requirements: Tdap, HPV, Meningococcal  
• Grade 12 entry requirements: Meningococcal 

When: January and February 2024  

Audience: Healthcare Providers  

Topics Include:

✅ Epidemiology of the outbreak 

✅ Prevention and control strategies 

✅ Best practices to increase vaccination 

Continuing education credit available. Find out more.