HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast includes people and partners from 12 states and two jurisdictions across the Southeastern United States. Our goal is simple – we want everyone to be vaccinated against HPV to protect them, our families, and our communities against HPV cancers. HPV vaccination is safe, it works, and it provides long-lasting protection. 

Down south, we like things a certain way – and we like to take care of our people. HPV vaccination gives us a way to protect our families, friends, and communities from 6 types of cancer. 

If you would like to request printed campaign materials for your organization or an in-person event, please complete this request form. If you have any questions, email PreventHPV@stjude.org.

HPV infections are very common. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. More than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that are known to cause disease. About 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year. 

HPV is responsible for nearly 40,000 cases of cancer each year, including cancer of the throat, cervix, anus, vulva, penis, and vagina. HPV affects everyone. 

Since 2006, HPV types protected against by the vaccine have dropped by 88% among teen girls. The number of cervical precancers has also decreased. Recent studies in other countries show it is possible to eliminate HPV cancers, beginning with cervical cancer as a public health problem. 

Clinical trials followed people for over 10 years after vaccination. Protection remained high with no signs of slowing or decreasing. HPV vaccination is routinely recommended for everyone ages 9-26 and for some people ages 27 to 45 who were not vaccinated when younger.  

Experts recommend on time HPV vaccination at ages 9-12. It works best when given on-time by the 13th birthday. On-time vaccination is also important because people can get HPV before they are adults.  

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two HPV vaccine doses through age 14. Each dose should be given 6-12 months apart. Those who start the HPV vaccine series on or after age 15 should get 3 doses over 6 months.  

No matter the age, those with weak immune systems should get three doses. This includes childhood cancer survivors.  

Your child can get the HPV vaccine at the same time as other routine vaccinations.  

It’s never too late to get vaccinated against HPV. If you are age 27–45, talk with a health care provider to see if HPV vaccination is right for you. 

• Talk to your health care provider today about HPV vaccination for your child, yourself, and your family. 
• Tell your family members and friends about HPV vaccination. We need your help sharing the facts about HPV vaccination as cancer prevention.
• Learn more about HPV vaccination for cancer prevention at:
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
  • American Cancer Society
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
• Email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.  

The southeastern United States has historically had the lowest HPV vaccination coverage as a region – with some exceptions – and the highest rates of HPV cancers, especially cervical and oral cancers. Focusing on the Southeast allows us to galvanize existing successful efforts working in our areas, learn from each other, and further our reach and impact on improving HPV vaccination coverage.

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast is comprised of people and partners from 12 states and two jurisdictions – Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Building upon previous efforts led by the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable in 2019, the newly formed HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast aims to create a platform for sharing ideas and strategic action planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Beginning in September 2022, select representatives of southeastern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) and Puerto Rico united with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and the ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable to discuss improving HPV vaccination in these regions to prevent HPV cancers. This group, referred to as the Planning Committee, decided unanimously to recommit working together to take on the challenges unique to our region and similar to others facing low HPV vaccination coverage.

Join the Southeast Roundtable

The Southeast Roundtable leadership includes, an Executive Committee, a Steering Committee and Implementation Teams for Priority Actions. Access the Southeast Roundtable bylaws, approved December 19, 2024.

By coming together, the Southeast Roundtable will focus on:

• Current conditions surrounding HPV vaccination and HPV cancer prevention
• Replicating HPV vaccination success across the Southeast
• Overcoming challenges facing HPV vaccination
• Capitalizing on opportunities to improve HPV vaccination coverage in each state and the overall region.

The Southeast Roundtable also works to understand the current context and conditions, share success stories, creatively problem-solve challenges, and act accordingly to take on the challenge of too many missing out on HPV cancer prevention.

In January 2024, the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast held an in-person meeting, drawing 100 participants from 14 states and jurisdictions at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Learn more about the activities leading up to the annual meeting in this recording. During the meeting, attendees actively discussed, debated, and voted on evidence-based interventions, collectively identifying the top three strategies to enhance HPV vaccination rates in the region.

The main activities of the Southeast Roundtable center around three priority actions:

Communication: Develop and implement a communication campaign and messages for the Southeastern region 

Elimination: Develop and disseminate a plan for HPV cancer elimination in the Southeast, beginning with cervical cancer as a public health problem

Start at Age 9: Accelerate efforts to start HPV vaccination at age 9 

Each priority is driven by dedicated implementation teams made up of co-leaders and primary champions who meet monthly to advance the outlined action steps. These teams lead the charge in executing targeted activities, interventions, and programs designed to achieve the Roundtable’s goals. We are proud of the progress made so far and look forward to sharing updates and resources with you.

We also encourage active involvement from Roundtable members and thought leaders throughout the region. If you are interested in joining an implementation team, please join the Southeast Roundtable using the membership form, and reach out to us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.  Your participation is vital to our collective success!

Roundtable Meetings

This virtual training took place on June 6, 2024 and explored Operation Wipe Out, Alabama’s statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer, as a model for implementing policy to eliminate cervical cancer in the Southeast. Featured presenters were Isabel C. Scarinci, PhD, MPH, Professor, Vice-Chair for Global and Rural Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Senior Advisor for Globalization and Cancer, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Nancy Wright, MPH Director, Cancer Prevention and Control Division, Alabama Department of Health.

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast held an in-person meeting in January 2024, drawing 100 participants from 12 Southeastern states, and Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. During the meeting, attendees actively discussed, debated, and voted on evidence-based interventions, collectively identifying the top three strategies to enhance HPV vaccination rates in the region. The three priority action steps that the Southeast Roundtable will focus on are listed below:

1.  Develop and implement a communication campaign and messages for the Southeastern region
2.  Develop and disseminate a plan for HPV cancer elimination in the Southeast, beginning with cervical cancer as a public health problem.
3.  Accelerate efforts to start HPV vaccination at age 9

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast hosted three virtual meetings to reconvene southeastern states and improve HPV vaccination coverage.  Each meeting included state updates and a moderated discussion followed by action steps from Roundtable members. 

Navigating Conversations: Effective Communication Strategies for HPV Vaccination in the Southeast (11/15/2023)

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast held a second virtual training experience on November 15 – Navigating Conversations: Effective Communication Strategies for HPV Vaccination in the Southeast. In this virtual training, Bob Bednarczyk, PhD, Emory University, presented on effective communication strategies for HPV Vaccination and addressing HPV vaccine myths, Jennifer Cunningham-Erves, PhD, Vanderbilt University presented on a tailored, mobile phone-based intervention to build HPV vaccine confidence among parents and Beth Sundstrom, PhD, College of Charleston presented on communication strategies for HPV vaccination in the southeast, specifically building confidence and resilience. The training was moderated by Francine Walton, MPH. O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast held a virtual training experience on September 13 – Digging Deeper into HPV Vaccination Data. In this virtual training, Cassandra (Sandy) Pingali, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lead author of the MMWR publication, presented on the NIS-Teen data with Courtnay Londo of the American Immunization Registry Association and Casey Daniel, PhD of the University of South Alabama presented on HPV vaccination data sources nationally and regionally. The training was moderated by Caree McAfee, MA, CHES with the University of Kentucky - Markey Cancer Center.

Addressing HPV Vaccination Gaps in the Southeastern U.S. (2/27/2023)

 This seminar leading up to International HPV Awareness Day 2023 focused on gaps in HPV vaccination coverage in southeastern states with a focus on opportunities for action. The seminar was moderated by Fedoria Rugless, PhD with presentations given by Donna L. Williams, MS, MPH, DrPH, Pamela C. Hull, PhD, and Beth L. Sundstrom, PhD, MPH. Co-organizers included the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast and the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable.

To receive updates about the Southeast Roundtable, please complete the membership form and email PreventHPV@stjude.org with any questions.