No Time for Anti-Vaxxers: Black Women Disproportionately Dying From HPV

Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) is still a promiscuity joke in some circles, despite the fact Black women suffer the highest mortality rate from the cervical cancer it causes. In fact, studies show Black women are almost twice as likely to die from cervical cancer compared to their white counterparts.

Though the vaccine is widely available and boasts an effectiveness rate of nearly 90% against HPV-related cancers, coverage in the United States remains lower than the national Healthy People 2030 goal of 80%. The National Cancer Institute reports HPV Vaccine Awareness among U.S. adults is also painfully below target, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports nearly 80 million Americans–1 out of every 4 people–are currently infected with the virus.

One voice eager to raise awareness is Dr. Ashley Urrutia, an internist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Urrutia says almost all sexually active people have been exposed to HPV in their lifetime. Its high prevalence and exposure rate is particularly alarming considering how easily certain viral strains lead to serious health complications and cancer.

The anti-vaxx movement ignores the comparatively high death rate of young Black women, however.

"HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, rectal cancer, and mouth and throat cancer," Urrutia told BGX, and these cancers’ profound impact on public health also includes significant financial strain for patients.

Despite being preventable and treatable, cervical cancer causes an average of 4,000 deaths in the United States every year. Its impact on the world scene is no less staggering, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating 342,000 women died worldwide in 2020 alone. The whole planet is failing to screen, prevent, and treat HPV-related cancers.

The stark disparities in awareness between demographic groups in the U.S. make HPV all the more pressing, especially with Black women suffering the highest mortality. Young Black individuals are "10% less likely to have received the HPV vaccine than young white people," says the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.

Urrutia blames much of the high incidence of HPV-related cancers in the Black community on “non-equitable care and structural racism.” Sociodemographic characteristics, such as identifying as a racial or ethnic minority or having a lower socioeconomic status exacerbate the ignorance. And systemic factors that contribute to overall lack of health care access, including poor quality of life and low educational attainment, further widen the awareness disparity.

Some parents may have a difficult time imagining their child as a soon-to-be adult with a sex life, but Urrutia says the vaccine is most effective when administered before individuals become sexually active, making it ideal for preteens. The earlier you get vaccinated, the better effect it has, but adults should not exclude themselves either. Vaccination is available for all adults up to age 45, and it helps to have healthcare providers prioritize awareness and accessibility for older individuals who may have missed the initial vaccination.

The effects of HPV are treatable, but there is no true cure for the HPV virus, so your best defense is vaccination. If we fully embrace this argument, we have the real potential to eradicate these cancers through “herd immunity.” 

Growing misinformation from the anti-vaxx movement further complicates vaccination efforts, however. Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published an article to scare parents and teens away from the vaccine, and anti-vaxx associations keep releasing films that advocate against vaccination while claiming to be unbiased. The anti-vaxx movement ignores the comparatively high death rate of young Black women, however.

Engaging communities with targeted education campaigns and starting early is a good way to dislodge disinformation. Schools, community organizations, and healthcare providers can play a pivotal role in disseminating truth and dispelling the counterproductive myths. Medical professionals say comprehensive sex education should be standard in school curricula to better equip young people early with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their own sexual health.

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C. Dreams is an advocate who writes and lectures about prison and criminal justice reform, LGBTQ rights, harm reduction, and government and cultural criticism.