Alex Wiles
Sr. Regional Media Advocacy Manager
Las Vegas, NV
Guam Cancer Advocates Applaud Adoption of HPV Vaccine Requirement
April 16, 2026
Advocates, including cancer patients, survivors and caregivers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applaud the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services for updating the school health requirements to include the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for middle-school entry.
This milestone reflects years of sustained relationship-building, strategic engagement and strong collaboration across public health partners to advance the prevention of cancer across the territory.
“This is an incredible step forward in protecting Guam’s youth and reducing future HPV-related cancers,” said Cynthia Au, ACS CAN Guam Government Relations Director. “Over the last three years cancer-control partners, policymakers and public health leaders have collaborated with one goal in mind – reducing the cancer burden for the residents of Guam. This decision will strengthen public health for generations to come.”
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends routine HPV vaccination between ages 9 and 12 years to achieve higher on-time vaccination rates, which will lead to increased numbers of cancers prevented.
Currently, three states, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C., require HPV vaccination as part of their school entry schedule. A newly released ACS study revealed significant reductions in cervical cancer incidence across these jurisdictions. In a recent survey of cancer patients conducted by ACS CAN, 86% supported school entry vaccination requirements, with the HPV vaccine school mandate being supported by a ratio of 3-to-1.
HPV infection is a known causal agent of six different types of cancers. Each year in the United States an estimated 37,000 people are diagnosed with a cancer that was caused by HPV. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer and most pre-cancers are caused by HPV infection. Vaccination is a primary driver of the unprecedented decline in cervical cancer risk across several generations, with women born in the 1990s experiencing about half the cervical cancer incidence of women born in the 1970s. Up to 90% of cervical cancers can be prevented through HPV vaccination.
The HPV vaccine requirement in Guam is scheduled to begin in 2027 ahead of the school year, which begins in August.
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