TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the City Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a public outreach campaign to educate the public on the Human Papillomma Virus (HPV), its link to various diseases, and the HPV vaccine's availability and cost. Efforts should include identification of potential funding mechanisms.
DISCUSSION
The Human Papillomma Virus (HPV) has been discovered to be a leading cause of cervical cancer in women, as well as a cause of genital warts. HPV is a common virus and can have few or no symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that by 2005,20 million people in the United States had contracted HPV. HPV types 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases, and HPV types 6 and 11 causes 90 percent of genital warts cases.
Recently, a vaccine, Gardasil, was developed to prevent certain types of HPV.
While HPV affects a broad range, it is prevalent in 15-24 year olds.
The City of Long Beach is one of three cities in the state of California with its own health department. The City's Health and Human Services Department offers several vaccines. When the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the State California Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program approved the distribution of Gardasil, the Health Department made it available.
The Department's fee schedule allows for the vaccine to be administered at actual cost. In addition, Gardisil is promoted by medical organizations to doctors throughout the City.
In addition to ensuring that this vaccine is accessible and affordable, the City must ensure that its public is educated about HPV and aware of the vaccine and its availability. While the Health Department is funded largely by grants, the City should explore ways by which public outreach about the vaccine can be accomplished.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER PATRICK O'DONNELL, FOURTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER GERRIE SCHIPSKE, FIFTH DISTRICT