Preventing cancer is just as important as treating it.
The program aims to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among people ages 9 to 45 living in medically underserved areas of West Texas, including El Paso, Hudspeth, Culberson, Presidio and Brewster counties.
HPV-related cancers occur disproportionately among Hispanics, especially those living along the U.S.-Mexico border. Statistics show that counties along the Texas-Mexico border have significantly higher cervical cancer rates, at 12.3 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 9.5 cases per 100,000 people in non-border counties.
“This grant will expand and strengthen our program with innovative elements,” said Dr. Jennifer Molokwu, director of Cancer Prevention and Control at Texas Tech University El Paso. “We are committed to increasing HPV vaccination uptake among our target communities, especially adolescents and underserved populations.”
The grant will allow the program to expand its health education and healthcare navigation services. Molokwu expects the program will serve 83,000 people and administer 3,640 vaccinations over the five-year life of the grant.
To date, thanks to Tiempo De Vacunarte, approximately 2,000 uninsured or underinsured individuals between the ages of 9 and 45 have completed the HPV vaccination.
“Tiempo de Vacunarte, funded by CPRIT since 2014, has and continues to fulfill its promise of providing HPV vaccination to adolescents and adults living in the region who might otherwise not have knowledge or access to this highly effective cancer prevention vaccine,” said Ramona Magid, CPRIT’s Chief Prevention Officer. “The program successfully works with community members and collaborating partners to address their own issues.”
HPV infection is spread through intimate skin contact and can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and the back of the throat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in both men and women each year in the United States.
Cervical cancer was once the number one cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. The HPV vaccine has revolutionized cancer prevention, emerging as a powerful shield with the potential to prevent more than 90% of HPV-caused cancers. This medical breakthrough promises a brighter, healthier future for millions of people with widespread vaccination.
The grant builds on previous funding CPRIT received in 2014 and 2019 and will support efforts to increase engagement in the Borderplex region, which is home to approximately 1 million people living in medically underserved areas.
Expanding outreach to promote life-saving vaccinations
Tiempo de Vacunarte provides culturally tailored, bilingual HPV cancer prevention services in its mission to reduce the burden of HPV-related cancer in the region.
Molokwu said CPRIT’s new funding will allow Tiempo de Bacunarte to work with local school districts and service providers to deliver evidence-based, school-based vaccination initiatives that will allow people to receive the vaccine in a trusted environment.
Additionally, to drive scale-up of HPV vaccination, the program will train and support local vaccine champions who will use their influence to promote the benefits of vaccination within their communities.
To expand Tiempo de Vacunarte’s reach, partnerships will be established with private pharmacies, especially in rural areas, to make the vaccine more accessible to people in hard-to-reach areas. The program also plans to expand its reach through social media and other media platforms to reach a wider audience.
“Cancer prevention saves lives,” said Chief Scientific Officer Michel Le Beau. “The Tiempo De Vacunarte program is already reducing the burden of HPV-related cancers that disproportionately affect Hispanics in the Borderplex region. CPRIT is pleased to support the Tiempo De Vacunarte program and its mission to reduce the burden of HPV-related cancers in the Borderplex region.”
CPRIT is a $6 billion, 20-year initiative that is the largest state cancer research investment in U.S. history and the second largest cancer research and prevention program in the world. It accepts applications and awards grants to a wide range of innovative cancer research and product development, and delivery of evidence-based cancer prevention programs and services by public and private organizations in Texas.
To date, CPRIT has awarded more than $3.6 billion in grants to Texas research institutes and organizations through its academic, prevention and product development research programs. CPRIT has also brought 313 distinguished researchers to Texas, helped 67 companies establish, expand or relocate to Texas, and provided 9.7 million prevention services across all 254 Texas counties.
Texas Tech University at El Paso: Specializing in cancer prevention
Texas Tech Health El Paso has been committed to cancer prevention for more than a decade through initiatives such as Tiempo de Vacunarte, and last year CPRIT awarded $2,499,437 to the university’s De Casa en Casa program to provide cervical cancer screening in West and South Texas.
The Southwest Colon Cancer Screening Coalition (SuCCCeS) has been addressing high rates of colon cancer in El Paso County with funding from CPRIT since 2011, and the Breast Cancer Education, Screening and Navigation Program, supported by CPRIT since 2013, serves 105 counties in West Texas with a focus on education, screening and navigation.
Thanks to organizations like CPRIT and the support of the Borderplex community, Texas Tech Health El Paso remains steadfast in its mission to fight cancer through prevention, treatment and groundbreaking research.
Donate now to support Texas Tech Health El Paso programs like Tiempo de Vacunarte – every dollar raised directly supports life-saving testing.
At Texas Tech Health El Paso, hope begins here, where cancer prevention and support ensure a brighter future for cancer patients across the Borderplex. To learn more about the impact of Texas Tech Health El Paso and how you can support our mission, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.
