August 2025

By Laura Schabloske, MA and Tamara Robinson, MS

Nebraska is a predominantly rural state with 27% of its population living in rural areas, which is above the national average of 20%. Of the state's 93 counties, 61 are entirely rural, and many more are mostly rural. Compounding this, 69 counties are designated as primary care health professional shortage areas, creating significant barriers to health care access, including vaccinations. Although the HPV vaccine is a proven, life-saving cancer prevention tool, increasing awareness and addressing rural-specific challenges are essential to improving vaccination rates and protecting Nebraska communities. Every Nebraskan deserves a shot at prevention.

The Nebraska Cancer Coalition (NC2) serves as a neutral, statewide voice in cancer prevention, supporting all 93 Nebraska counties and offering guidance to rural states across the nation. Recently, NC2 launched a public awareness campaign, “HPV Doesn’t Wait – Why Should You?”, to educate providers and communities about the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing cancer. The campaign provides co-brandable resources, such as printed handouts, sample press releases, and social media content, all available in multiple languages. Recognizing the importance of reaching a broad audience, NC2 has tailored materials to engage both young adults and adults, furthering its vision: Conquering Cancer Together.

HPV Vaccination in Nebraska: Where We Stand

HPV vaccination can prevent over 90% of the six cancers caused by HPV. When we look at our younger population, a clear picture is emerging for Nebraska’s13–17-year-olds. In 2023, according to National Immunization Survey (NIS)-Teen data:

• 83.9% had their first dose of the HPV vaccination.
• Only 67.4% were fully up to date with their HPV vaccination.

Comparing these data to other common adolescent vaccinations that are often given at the same time, like meningococcal (92.2% first dose) and whooping cough (Tdap) (89.5% first dose), shows there is room to improve HPV vaccination completion rates.

Where an individual lives also plays a significant role in who gets vaccinated in Nebraska. In 2023, for 13-17-year-olds who were up to date with their HPV vaccination:

• 69.1% lived in a major metropolitan principal city (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island)
• 65.1% lived in a metropolitan non-principal city (like Bellevue or Fremont)
• Only 51.9% were up to date in rural areas

This stark difference between metro and rural areas highlights the disparities in vaccination rates between our communities. These data are critical because HPV cancers are a real concern. In 2022, Nebraska saw 257 diagnoses of HPV cancers in both males and females. These are cancers that could potentially be prevented through vaccination.

By understanding the disparities and actively promoting vaccination, especially in our rural communities, we can work together to ensure more Nebraskans are protected from HPV cancers. Talk to your health care provider about HPV vaccination for yourself or your loved ones. It's a proactive step that truly saves lives.

For more information on NC2 and the “HPV Doesn’t Wait – Why Should You?” campaign visit: http://www.necancer.org/HPV and http://www.fightbackne.org.

About the authors

Laura Schabloske, MA is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Cancer Coalition. She began her career in the for-profit sector and has transformed her private sector skills working in health care to help both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She is an expert at helping to identify and work through the challenges facing businesses in developing strategy and sustainability plans, creating systems as well as honing development and operational efficiencies and processes. Her for-profit background in health care administration transitioned into her consulting practice supporting many medical, public-health practices and associations.  She has been a trusted advisor to over 90 organizations. She has served as a board member with numerous non-profits and universities.