body
WHEREAS, each year, despite the availability of a proven vaccine that can prevent the infection, more than 27,000 cases of cancer nationwide are directly attributable to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and of which, 11,000 are cases of oral cancer; and,
WHEREAS, even though the vaccine is approved for boys and girls ages 9-28 and covered by private insurers, the Affordable Care Act, and the federal Vaccines for Children program for uninsured families, only 27% of teenage girls and 21.7% of teenage boys in the Pittsburgh region have completed the three-dose vaccination, and these rates are even lower in minority communities; and,
WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that boys and girls ages 11-12 receive the vaccine to give the child’s immune systems ample time to respond positively; and,
WHEREAS, since 2006, over 175 million doses have been administered worldwide and there are very few reports of adverse side effects; and,
WHEREAS, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Duquesne University’s Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and oral cancer survivor John Rhodes, local schools pediatric healthcare providers and community-based organizations, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation is embarking on a campaign to raise awareness of HPV-related oral cancer and promote the importance of proper vaccination to parents of pre-teenagers, especially those living in high-risk and low-income communities; and,
WHEREAS, with generous funding from the Grable Foundation, the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s program expanded its reach into more schools, engaged more partners to address the low rates of vaccination throughout the Pittsburgh region, and launched www.hpvpittsburgh.org <http://www.hpvpittsburgh.org>, a resource for parents and healthcare providers alike.
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Jewish Healthcare Foundation and its partners for increasing awareness of HPV-related oral cancer and developing a strategy to promote the importance of vaccination in Pittsburgh; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, May 3, 2016 to be “HPV-Related Oral Cancer Awareness Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.