HPV vaccine and cervical cancer among the poor and underserved: The need to strengthen effective cervical cancer screening interventions.

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Background: In June 2006, the FDA approved GardasilTM, the vaccine that protects against strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause 70% of cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends GardasilTM to females 9 to 26 years old and supports universal immunization for 11-12 year olds.
 Controversies surrounding the widespread implementation of GardasilTM include: resistance to state mandates, physicians concern about inadequate reimbursement and storage, and parental fear of promoting sexual activity.
 National data from 2005 revealed that most women had not heard about HPV or its link to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer rates are higher among minority, poor and medically underserved populations who often do not get regular Pap tests. To reduce cervical cancer disparities, these groups need education about HPV and how GardasilTM can be incorporated into existing screening programs.
 Methods: National Cancer Institute (NCI) supports intervention research that reduces cervical cancer disparities and encourages grant applications that address HPV-related issues.
 Results: Clinicians and NCI-funded researchers will describe the acceptability and psychosocial impact of GardasilTM among minority and underserved populations. Researchers will discuss how psychosocial and access barriers to screening and immunization may affect uptake of GardasilTM. Additionally, presenters will describe how past strategies that increased screening and immunization among diverse populations may be modified to integrate Gardasil.TM
 Lessons Learned: Summit participants will be able to
 Describe guidelines for HPV immunization and screening to prevent and control cervical cancer.
 Describe how psychosocial, access and cultural barriers to cervical cancer screening and childhood immunizations among the poor and underserved may impact uptake of GardasilTM.
 Describe strategies that may be useful for educating minority and underserved populations about HPV, cervical cancer, and GardasilTM.