DePinho, Ramondetta: Fight against HPV requires that we roll up our sleeves

As a parent, would you roll up your child's sleeve for a shot you know would prevent him or her from ever getting a deadly disease? Most parents since the 1970s probably already have. What if that deadly disease were cancer? You'd no doubt be first in line at the clinic with your child.

Thanks to action last week by the Food and Drug Administration, three vaccines are now approved that have the power to stop several cancers in men and women before they even start. Two vaccines already available in clinics across Texas target several types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a virus that can cause cancer. The newest vaccine that was approved last week - Gardasil 9 - targets five additional types of HPV.

With such an opportunity available across the United States, why are vials of the existing vaccine sitting on shelves gathering dust? Only one in three girls and fewer than one in six boys receive the recommended vaccine regimen. In Texas, the figures are even lower.

Approximately 10,000 Americans die each year from cancers linked to the HPV virus, and many more experience merciless pain and suffering. Those who are at risk of becoming a future statistic likely don't even know it. That's because up to 80 percent of Americans will unknowingly become infected within their lifetime. And for those unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with an HPV-linked cancer, the consequences could be deadly.

For women, cervical cancer is the major threat. More than 12,000 new cases - likely all caused by HPV- are diagnosed annually. For American men, HPV is to blame for most cancers in the throat. Also on the list: vaginal and vulvar cancers among women, and penile cancers among men. Collectively, 26,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancers stemming from the virus each year.

We all know vaccine safety has become a serious concern for some parents. However, misguided theories have been debunked many times over, and the benefits have been proven to outweigh the small risk of side effects that has caused parents to refrain from having their children vaccinated. Parents also are avoiding vaccination for their kids because they worry doing so encourages underage sex. That's another theory that has proved false upon rigorous scientific studies, including the latest published just a few days ago

It is time for a reality check when it comes to vaccination. Parents need to understand the real risk comes from opting out. The real risk is cancer.

We must overcome these roadblocks to ensure future generations - our children - don't needlessly experience the devastating impact of cancer. That's why M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and our partners are ramping up our efforts.

Recently, Rice University and M.D. Anderson hosted a forum to discuss the issue and generate solutions. We're also launching new research programs to complement expanded outreach efforts. For example, scientists at M.D. Anderson joined with researchers in 18 other states for a national project aimed at increasing HPV vaccination rates on a state-by-state basis - a grass-roots effort to confront vaccination fears head on.

We're planning a multi-pronged attack: increasing vaccine access and targeting geographical regions where vaccination rates are low. We're looking for new opportunities to offer vaccination when children visit the pediatrician or a walk-in clinic. We've also been hosting meetings with school leaders and nurses to identify ways to address our insufficient vaccination rates.

We have a huge opportunity to make a lasting impact now. Many other countries have had success. The Australian government launched a major campaign to inform parents about the need to vaccinate. Just a few hundred miles to our south, Mexico also has had tremendous success in getting 67 percent of its population to vaccinate. That's a remarkable figure considering Mexico's health care infrastructure is much less developed than ours.

It's time for health leaders in Texas and beyond to follow the lead of other nations. We need additional efforts in every state. It's also time for federal health officials to launch a large nationwide campaign aimed at dispelling fears and saving lives. It will require dedication. It will require increased funding. It will require courage and persistence by public policymakers.

It will be worth it. This is our opportunity to take responsible action for the health of our children, and to roll up our sleeves and theirs - this time for a cancer-fighting shot.

DePinho, a physician, is president of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Ramondetta, also a physician, is a professor of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at M.D. Anderson.