Oregon tribal health center gets national recognition for preventing HPV cancers, Dec. 4

OHA Immunization Program Manager Aaron Dunn discusses recognition. Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center has been named the HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion for outstanding efforts to protect adolescents from cancers caused by HPV in Oregon. Tribal and Indian Health Service (IHS) clinic staff serving members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs thoroughly examine each patient vaccination record before their appointment and recommend the HPV vaccine. The clinic also partners with the on-site dental clinic to vaccinate patients as they come in for routine dental care. “Warm Springs Health and Wellness is a leader among clinics in Oregon with an HPV vaccine completion rate of more than 73 percent among adolescents,” said Aaron Dunn, manager of the Immunization Program at the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division. The health center was nominated for this award by the Immunization Program. This award program recognizes clinicians, clinics, practices, groups, and health systems that are going above and beyond to foster HPV vaccination in their community. This year the award program is honoring champions from 25 states. HPV vaccine is important because it protects against cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Every year in the United States, nearly 35,000 women and men are estimated to be diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90 percent of these cancers from ever developing. Both boys and girls should get two doses of the HPV vaccine series when they are 11 or 12 years old. The HPV vaccine series can be started as early as age 9.  To read Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center’s profile on the CDC’s website, and to learn more about HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion Award program, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/champions/winner-spotlights.html.