HPV Vaccine Conference on April 14 will be virtual; vaccine stops human papilloma virus, which causes certain types of cancer

The Kentucky Rural Health Association is devoting a one-day conference to discuss a vaccine that can protect against infections and cancers caused by the human papillomavirus.

The HPV Vaccine Conference, which was to be held in Bowling Green, will now be held virtually on April 14 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. ET. Click here to register. 

Among other topics, speakers who will talk about strategies to improve HPV immunization rates, rural HPV data, HPV vaccine resources and inter professional collaborations to increase HPV vaccination.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. and can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, rectum, throat and the back of the tongue. More than 90 percent could be prevented by the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vaccine is recommended for all 11- and 12-year-olds, but can be given up to the age of 45. In 2020, only 55.7% of Kentucky teens aged 13 through 17 had received all recommended doses of the HPV vaccine, slightly below the national rate of 58.6%, according to the America's Health Rankings. Kentucky ranks 29th among the states.