Introduction

Cervical cancer is a significant concern for Californians. Each year about 1,500 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 400 will die according to the California Cancer Registry. This makes California the state with the highest incidence of cervical cancer in the country. According to the American Cancer Society, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), the leading cause of cervical cancer, and strikes more than 11,000 women in the United States each year.

The FDA approved the HPV vaccine in 2007 for women 11 to 26. The vaccine protects young women against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. Gardasil, the vaccine that is currently available, protects against 4 types of HPV, which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of genital warts cases.

Access to the HPV Vaccine is part of Planned Parenthood's Mission

Planned Parenthood Action Funds of California supports public policy and legislation which:

• Expands access, availability, and affordability of FDA approved STD prevention methods, including the HPV vaccine.
• Expands access, availability, and affordability of services which decrease the risk of cervical cancer and other reproductive cancers, including the HPV vaccine

Legislation

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) believes in expanding access, availability, and affordability of FDA approved method of preventing against STDs, including the HPV vaccine. As a result, PPAC has supported several pieces of legislation with coalition partners. Below is the list of bills that the legislature has considered on this subject.

2009

Senate Bill 158 (Wiggins)
This bill is pending the Governor's signature. This is the third attempt to require insurance plans already covering treatment of cervical cancer to cover the vaccine.

2008

Assembly Bill 16 (Evans)
This bill would have required insurance plans already covering treatment of cervical cancer to cover the vaccine. This bill passed from the legislature and was vetoed by the Governor.

Assembly Bill 1429 (Evans)
This bill was the second attempt to pass a bill requiring insurance plans already covering treatment of cervical cancer to cover the vaccine. This bill passed from the legislature and was vetoed by the Governor.

2007

Assembly Bill 16 (Hernandez) 
This bill would have required female students to be immunized before entering into the 6th grade. The bill did not pass and was changed significantly.