Cervical cancer prevention initiative seeking to increase HPV vaccination rate wins House committee endorsement

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana House Committee passed legislation today authored by State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) initiating efforts to increase Indiana’s HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination rate and prevent cervical cancer.

The House Public Health Committee approved House Bill 1359, which would require the Indiana State Department of Health to enact a plan with goals and timetables to reduce the incidence of the HPV virus. The virus is the leading cause of cervical cancer in the United States.

HB 1359 is an outreach effort to increase the HPV immunization rate to 80 percent by July 1, 2020 for students ages 13 – 15. In order to accomplish this preventative goal, an additional 136,800 students would need to be vaccinated. Low-income and minority children are of particular interest.

“Of the 12,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, about 4,000 will die from this preventable disease,” noted Errington. “Men are also affected with over 9,000 HPV-associated cancer cases annually. I want to increase HPV immunization awareness among young people, parents, and health providers so future cases can be prevented.”

HPV can be transmitted even when an infected person shows no symptomatic signs. Safe, effective vaccines are available and recommended for all boys and girls ages 11 and 12 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Co-authors of HB 1359 are State Reps. Edward Clere (R-New Albany), Cindy Kirchhofer (R-Beech Grove), and Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis).

The measure passed committee unanimously on a vote of 11-0 and will now advance to the full House for deliberation.