Vista, CA – December 17, 2018 – Vista Community Clinic (VCC), from Vista, CA, has been named the California HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion for outstanding efforts to protect adolescents from cancers caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). VCC is recognized for their efforts to achieve high HPV vaccination rates in their practice.
Led in partnership by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Association of American Cancer Institutes, and the American Cancer Society the HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion Award Program recognizes clinicians, clinics, practices, groups, and health systems that are going above and beyond to foster HPV vaccination in their community. This year, the award program is honoring champions from 32 states.
Under the leadership of Dr. Sujana Gunta, Director of Pediatric Services, VCC has worked hard as an organization to bring better awareness and participation to the HPV vaccine among our patients. The Pediatric Department of VCC has promoted discussion about the HPV vaccine at all levels from the front desk, to our clinicians, and even with executive level staff. For the past year, VCC has collaborated with the American Cancer Society (ACS) on a project to boost HPV vaccination rates among the low-income teens we serve. As a part of this project we boosted our discussion and education with parents and patients about the HPV vaccine; vaccines were offered at every visit – sick or well, as medically appropriate. We created specific workflows for every member of the healthcare team and language that aims to help increase the acceptance of HPV vaccines and improve immunization rates. VCC continued their efforts beyond the ACS project including, but not limited to, integrating their electronic records with the local immunization registry, mailing reminder cards, working on integrated projects with other specialties like dental, and improving access to adolescents pursuant to a California law that allows clinicians to offer the vaccine at confidential visits as well. VCC’s overall completion rate of 64% for adolescent patients in their community, earning them this prestigious honor.
HPV vaccine is important because it protects against cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a very common virus; nearly 80 million people are currently infected in the United States.
Every year in the United States, 33,700 women and men are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. HPV vaccination could prevent more than 90% of these cancers—about 31,000—from occurring. Both boys and girls should start the HPV vaccine series when they are 11 or 12 years old and finish all recommended doses before they turn age 13.The HPV vaccine series can be started as early as age 9.
Every year, the award honors up to one champion from all 50 U.S. States, eight U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia. Immunization programs submit nominations for the HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion in their state or territory. Nominees must be a clinician, clinic, practice, group, or health system that treats adolescents as part of their overall patient population and must have an HPV vaccine series completion rate at 60% or higher for their adolescent patient population.
To read VCC’s profile on the CDC’s website, and to learn more about HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention Champion Award program, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/hpv.
About Vista Community Clinic
With eight state-of-the-art locations in North San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, VCC provides affordable, high quality health care to more than 65,000 community residents. Services offered by VCC include primary care, pediatrics, prenatal and women’s health, optometry, chiropractic care, dental health, podiatry, acupuncture and behavioral health services. VCC also offers a wide array of community health education programs which are free and open to all community residents. VCC is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 (highest) Patient-Centered Medical Home, and is the recipient of the HRSA National Quality Leader Seal for exceeding national clinical quality benchmarks. For more information call 760.631.5000 or visit www.vcc.clinic.
Media Contacts:
Allison Madsen Betsy Heightman
Communications Specialist Chief Development Officer
Allison.c.madsen@vcc.clinic Betsy@vcc.clinic
760.631.5000 x7196 760.631.5000 x1139
