SR 46

WHEREAS, Human papillomavirus (HPV), is the leading cause of cervical cancer and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers. HPV is linked with more than 90 percent of anal and cervical cancers, about 70 percent of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and 60 percent of penile cancers; and

WHEREAS, HPV is estimated to cause nearly 36,000 cases of cancer in men and women every year in the United States. HPV vaccination can prevent more than 32,000 of these cancers from ever developing by preventing the infections that cause those cancers; and

WHEREAS, Hispanic women have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer, about one and one-half times higher than non-Hispanic White and Asian and Pacific Islander women. African American women have the second highest risk of developing cervical cancer and are more likely to die of cervical cancer than any other group. These statistics underscore the importance of increased education within these communities; and

WHEREAS, About 3,300 HPV-attributable cancer cases are diagnosed each year in California. That means approximately 10 percent of the nations HPV-attributable cancers occur among Californians, the results of which may include early death, poor quality of life, loss of productivity, and substantial health care costs; and

WHEREAS, Between 9 to 12 years of age is the optimal age range to receive the HPV vaccine series to protect against certain diseases and cancers attributable to HPV infection; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted routine vaccination and has specifically resulted in a concerning deficit for routine adolescent vaccinations such as HPV. Prepandemic, HPV vaccination generally lags other routine adolescent vaccinations such as the meningitis vaccine, and the pandemic threatens to widen this gap. As of late 2020, there was a deficit of over 2,000,000 doses of HPV vaccine compared to 2019; and

WHEREAS, Data suggests our underserved populations are being disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. Emerging data indicates that recovery of routine vaccination for children insured through Medicaid and the states childrens health insurance program (CHIP) is lagging behind children who are commercially insured, creating further disparities in vaccination coverage; and

WHEREAS, If not addressed, this trend could expose our community to vaccine-preventable diseases as well as associated illness, death, and certain cancers, as well as exacerbate existing disparities in care. As a result, there is a pressing need to ensure adolescents receive their wellness visits and receive past due or currently due, routine vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society recommends that all people with cervixes begin cervical cancer screening at 25 years of age. Cervical cancer screening tests offer the best chance to detect precancerous changes; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted cervical cancer screening rates, particularly in California. Cervical cancer screening rates in Kaiser Permanente Southern California decreased 80 percent compared to prepandemic rates; and

WHEREAS, In October 2018, the American Cancer Society and the California Dialogue on Cancer cofounded the California HPV Vaccination Roundtable (Roundtable) to mobilize collective action to prevent HPV-associated cancers by increasing HPV vaccination coverage in California. The Roundtable is a coalition of diverse stakeholders who adopted the American Cancer Societys Mission: HPV Cancer Free goal of 80 percent HPV vaccination completion coverage for children 13 years of age by 2026, which will be the 20-year anniversary of the FDAs approval of the first HPV vaccine; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate proclaims August as HPV-Attributable Cancers, Screening, and Vaccination Awareness Month in the State of California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate encourages all Californians, the State Department of Public Health, and the State Department of Health Care Services to observe the month and conduct appropriate activities that support prevention, including promoting screening and educational outreach to all eligible Californians, increase the awareness of HPV-attributable cancer and prevention measures within the medical and public heath community, and implement programs to raise awareness about the causes and symptoms of, as well as prevention measures for, HPV-attributable cancers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Human papillomavirus (HPV), is the leading cause of cervical cancer and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers. HPV is linked with more than 90 percent of anal and cervical cancers, about 70 percent of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and 60 percent of penile cancers; and

WHEREAS, HPV is estimated to cause nearly 36,000 cases of cancer in men and women every year in the United States. HPV vaccination can prevent more than 32,000 of these cancers from ever developing by preventing the infections that cause those cancers; and

WHEREAS, Hispanic women have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer, about one and one-half times higher than non-Hispanic White and Asian and Pacific Islander women. African American women have the second highest risk of developing cervical cancer and are more likely to die of cervical cancer than any other group. These statistics underscore the importance of increased education within these communities; and

WHEREAS, About 3,300 HPV-attributable cancer cases are diagnosed each year in California. That means approximately 10 percent of the nations HPV-attributable cancers occur among Californians, the results of which may include early death, poor quality of life, loss of productivity, and substantial health care costs; and

WHEREAS, Between 9 to 12 years of age is the optimal age range to receive the HPV vaccine series to protect against certain diseases and cancers attributable to HPV infection; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted routine vaccination and has specifically resulted in a concerning deficit for routine adolescent vaccinations such as HPV. Prepandemic, HPV vaccination generally lags other routine adolescent vaccinations such as the meningitis vaccine, and the pandemic threatens to widen this gap. As of late 2020, there was a deficit of over 2,000,000 doses of HPV vaccine compared to 2019; and

WHEREAS, Data suggests our underserved populations are being disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. Emerging data indicates that recovery of routine vaccination for children insured through Medicaid and the states childrens health insurance program (CHIP) is lagging behind children who are commercially insured, creating further disparities in vaccination coverage; and

WHEREAS, If not addressed, this trend could expose our community to vaccine-preventable diseases as well as associated illness, death, and certain cancers, as well as exacerbate existing disparities in care. As a result, there is a pressing need to ensure adolescents receive their wellness visits and receive past due or currently due, routine vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society recommends that all people with cervixes begin cervical cancer screening at 25 years of age. Cervical cancer screening tests offer the best chance to detect precancerous changes; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted cervical cancer screening rates, particularly in California. Cervical cancer screening rates in Kaiser Permanente Southern California decreased 80 percent compared to prepandemic rates; and

WHEREAS, In October 2018, the American Cancer Society and the California Dialogue on Cancer cofounded the California HPV Vaccination Roundtable (Roundtable) to mobilize collective action to prevent HPV-associated cancers by increasing HPV vaccination coverage in California. The Roundtable is a coalition of diverse stakeholders who adopted the American Cancer Societys Mission: HPV Cancer Free goal of 80 percent HPV vaccination completion coverage for children 13 years of age by 2026, which will be the 20-year anniversary of the FDAs approval of the first HPV vaccine; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate proclaims August as HPV-Attributable Cancers, Screening, and Vaccination Awareness Month in the State of California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate encourages all Californians, the State Department of Public Health, and the State Department of Health Care Services to observe the month and conduct appropriate activities that support prevention, including promoting screening and educational outreach to all eligible Californians, increase the awareness of HPV-attributable cancer and prevention measures within the medical and public heath community, and implement programs to raise awareness about the causes and symptoms of, as well as prevention measures for, HPV-attributable cancers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.