Immunization Programs
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a variety of resources and services to help your child receive recommended vaccinations. In January 2014, Iowa AAP received a grant designed to provide pediatricians with information to help them encourage their patients to receive the recommended three human papillomavirus (HPV) shots. One reason that the CDC and AAP are prioritizing the HPV vaccines is that almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Other HPV-related cancers include cancers of the oropharynx, penis, and anus. It is important that both girls and boys receive the HPV vaccinations to protect them and their future partners. Iowa AAP’s plan to help pediatricians educate families included three elements: infographics, educational videos, and a data-driven quality improvement campaign implemented in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Health Immunization Bureau.
To find more AAP resources on immunizations, please click here.
Infographics
The HPV Infographics present useful facts and statistics about HPV vaccinations in a visually appealing and accessible manner. The infographics were disseminated via the Iowa AAP’s social media platforms, as well as included in the IDPH-partner mailing. Pediatricians can pass these infographics to parents and children.
Printable versions of these infographics are available below.
Get Protected with the HPV Vaccine
To view the references used to create the infographics, click here.
Educational Videos
Iowa AAP produced five short video to help give pediatricians tools, tips, and talking points for encouraging families to make sure that their children are vaccinated for HPV. The videos are available on Iowa AAP’s You Tube Channel.
- 20 Seconds on HPV Safety with Dr. Boonstra: Dr. Nathan Boonstra, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Blank Children's Hospital, discusses HPV vaccine safety.
- Vaccinating Boys for HPV with Dr. Cheyne: Dr. Ken Cheyne, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Blank Children’s Hospital presents strategies on how to encourage young men to be vaccinated for HPV.
- Tips for Talking About the HPV Vaccine: Dr. Ken Cheyne (Pediatrician), Dr. Ginny Ryan (Ob/GYN) and Dr. Nathan Boonstra (Pediatrician) provides tips for talking to patients and families about getting vaccinated for HPV.
- A Strong Recommendation for HPV Vaccine: Pediatricians should give a strong recommendation for the HPV vaccine in order to increase the HPV vaccination rates in their patient population. Watch how to effectively encourage a parent to get their child vaccinated.
- HPV Animation Facts: Watch this animated clip for some facts and statistics about HPV and the HPV vaccination.
Data Driven Quality Improvement Campaign
Iowa AAP also completed a project with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Immunization Bureau and the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians in Spring 2014. IDPH shared individual HPV immunization rates, as reported in Iowa’s Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS). with every IRIS-registered provider organization. In addition to provider-specific data, the local county data and statewide data were provided as comparison points and as a tool providers can use to benchmark their efforts. Additional data reports will be sent periodically.
In order to help providers improve the quality of the services they provide, the Iowa AAP developed a Tip and Fact sheet providers can use to inform patients about HPV and the HPV vaccination. Take a look at our Tip and Fact sheet and IDPH annual vaccination reports for more information on HPV vaccinations and vaccination rates.
Iowa AAP urges all Iowa healthcare providers to increase the consistency and strength of how they recommend HPV vaccine. Through this grant, Iowa AAP has been able to provide pediatricians with infographics to inform and educate patients, video clips with suggestions on talking with patients about HPV vaccinations, and data about each provider’s current performance in comparison to the rest of the state.
