PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, April 23, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention as well as HPV-related cancer guidance, resources and care.
Event participants include:
- Cushanta Horton, MPH, Branch Head, Cancer Prevention and Control Branch, Division of Public Health, NCDHHS
- Nadja Vielot, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Around 85% of people will get an HPV infection at least once in their life. HPV is a common virus and can cause several types of cancers in people of all ages and genders. In North Carolina, rates of HPV-related cancers are higher than the national rates, with head and neck cancers among men accounting for much of that difference.
HPV vaccines help prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer. HPV vaccines are recommended beginning around age 11, but adults up to age 45 can also receive the vaccine. However, in North Carolina in 2022, nearly half of youth who were eligible for an HPV vaccine had not received all recommended doses.
Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss the following:
- HPV prevention, detection and treatment
- Impacts of HPV-related cancers
- Importance of HPV vaccines and recommended screenings
- How to access health care providers, services and resources
Cancer impacts families and communities across North Carolina, from those who have experienced a diagnosis to their loved ones and caregivers. Resources are available to help people access health services, providers and care, stay up to date on vaccines and recommended screenings, manage a cancer diagnosis and find long-term support.
The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 100654#.