January 20, 2026 Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov
Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Encourage Vaccination and Screening to Protect Against Cervical Cancer
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
RICHMOND, Va. – In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to take action against cervical cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human papilloma virus (HPV) causes more than nine out of every 10 cases of cervical cancer. Almost all cervical cancer can be prevented by HPV vaccination.
- Parents and guardians should make sure their children have their school-required HPV vaccination prior to starting 7th grade.
- Parents and guardians can make appointments for school-required immunizations with their primary care provider, a local pharmacy, or at an in-school clinic.
- Women ages 21 and older should talk to their doctor about cervical cancer screening.
- The United States Department of Health and Human Services recently approved a self-administered test for cervical cancer for women aged 30-65 years at average risk. This test can be completed at home or at a doctor’s office. Insurance plans will be required to cover the full cost of self-collected HPV screenings by Jan. 1, 2027, with no cost to consumers.
“Making sure children get the HPV vaccine can help reduce their risk of developing cervical and other cancers,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “We encourage our community to protect their health and the health of their children through vaccination and regular screenings for cervical and other cancers.”
HPV Vaccination
According to a recent systematic review published in the Cochrane Library, the HPV vaccination:
- reduces the incidence of cervical cancer by around 80% in people vaccinated at or before age of 16;
- reduces the incidence of high‐grade cervical pre‐cancer lesions, as well as anogenital warts;
- is not associated with an increased risk of long‐term side effects or infertility;
- is more effective when given at or before the age of 16 years, before onset of sexual activity.
In November 2024, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a research letter stating that studies from 2022 and 2023 indicated a 12 percent per year decline (overall, 65 percent reduction) in cervical cancer incidence from 2012 to 2019 among US women younger than 25 years who likely benefited from HPV vaccination.
A new nationwide cohort study from Sweden suggests that widespread HPV vaccination could substantially reduce the risk of precancerous lesions even among people who never received the vaccine.
HPV vaccination has been recommended for routine use in U.S. women since June 2006.
- In Virginia, the HPV vaccine is required for all students, regardless of sex, prior to entry into 7th
- Children who receive both doses of the vaccine before age 13 will receive the most protection.
- Children who receive their first dose at the age of 15 or older will require three doses to complete the series.
- The HPV vaccine is also recommended for people 26 years of age who did not start or complete the vaccination at an earlier age.
- HPV vaccine recommendation for persons 27-45 years of age is based on shared clinical decision making.
According to data from VDH, as of Jan. 13, 2026, 74.1 percent of 13-year-olds in Richmond City and 73.3 percent of 13-year-olds in Henrico County have received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine series. Statewide, 76 percent of 13-year-olds have received least one dose of the HPV vaccine series.
As of Jan. 13, 2026, 47.4 percent of 18-year-olds in Richmond City and 70.4 percent of 18-year-olds in Henrico County have received the complete HPV vaccine series. Statewide, 62.7 percent of 18-year-olds have received the complete HPV vaccine series.
HPV and Cervical Cancer Data
According to data from CDC, HPV causes six different kinds of cancer, including almost all (91 percent) of cervical cancers. HPV also causes 70 percent of head and neck (oropharyngeal) cancers.
According to the National Cancer Institute’s State Cancer Profile, the rate of new cases of cervical cancer in Virginia has been decreasing steadily from 2017 to 2021. The rates of new cases in Richmond and Henrico were somewhat lower than the rate in Virginia during the same time period.
Screening and Care for Cervical Cancer
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers Every Woman’s Life (EWL), a public health program that helps uninsured, income-eligible women gain access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. Screening and early detection reduce death rates, improve treatment options, and greatly increase rates of survival. If a woman enrolled in EWL is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer she may be eligible for Medicaid to pay for treatment. Community members can use this link to find a EWL provider near them.
To be eligible for EWL, a woman must be a Virginia resident between the ages of 18-64, meet federal income guidelines and be uninsured. Women 18-39 must be symptomatic or be determined to be high risk for breast and/or cervical cancer to be eligible.
Visit rhhd.gov/connect-pc to locate primary care providers in the Richmond and Henrico area. Visit rhhd.gov/childhoodvax for more information on school-required immunizations. For information about RHHD’s clinical health resources and HPV vaccination schedule, call 804-205-3500 or visit rhhd.gov.
Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.
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