I think everybody wants to have a cure for cancer someday or, preferably, not get cancer in the first place. So it’s important to recognize that vaccines have a role to play in both prevention against certain forms of cancer and protection for people with cancer. When people skip routine vaccination, they may not be considering the long-term consequences of some of those decisions. The American Cancer Society issued a statement recently that says it a lot better than I can:
American Cancer Society Public Health Statement on the Importance of Vaccination to the Cancer Community
The American Cancer Society (ACS) strongly supports the critical role of vaccination in promoting public health and protecting communities impacted by cancer. Vaccines are an essential part of care for people with cancer and their families. Vaccines undergo extensive safety, effectiveness, and quality testing before becoming available.
Vaccines are among the most effective tools we have to prevent disease, reduce suffering, and save lives.
Population-level immunity to infectious diseases is essential for safeguarding the health of people with chronic disease-related immunocompromise. Without adequate community vaccination coverage, people with cancer, cancer survivors, and their families risk preventable morbidity and mortality through participation in everyday activities. High vaccination rates ensure that these individuals remain protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B are powerful cancer prevention tools. HPV vaccination provides protection from HPV-related cancers, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancer, while hepatitis B vaccination reduces the risk of liver cancer. The ACS currently recommends a 2-dose routine HPV vaccination beginning at ages 9–12 years, with catch-up vaccination through age 26 years for those who were not adequately vaccinated earlier.
Several cancer treatment vaccines have shown promise in clinical trials across a wide range of disease sites. Research supporting novel therapeutic vaccines can provide new ways to improve survival from cancer.
Increased access and broad uptake of safe and effective vaccinations save lives and reduces the burden of cancer for future generations. The American Cancer Society supports science-based immunization recommendations and policies that protect all communities.
Help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
Click here for more trustworthy information on cancer prevention.
It really pains me to say this, but we have entered an era when we can no longer trust our government’s health agencies or the advice they give us. I know that there are some people who have felt this way for a long time (in some instances for good reason); however, for the most part government agencies like the CDC and the FDA have relied on sound science and expert opinion to guide their recommendations. Sadly, this is no longer true. If we had any doubt about it, it was erased by watching Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appearance before a Senate committee yesterday.
So what are we supposed to do? How do we get reliable guidance on things like vaccines and screenings? Who do we trust now?
Some states – such as the consortium formed by California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii – are going to come up with their own vaccine guidelines based on the most evidence-based medical research. I hope that they are successful and that the people living in those places feel reassured and will place their trust in their local public health professionals. For the rest of us, though, the reality may be that we have to do our own research, apply a critical eye to what we hear and read, and be our own health advocates.
To that end, I’m beginning to compile a list of sources that I believe are reliable, trustworthy, and based on solid medical evidence. Here’s what I have so far (in no particular order):
KFF Health News – If you want all the latest health news about policies and the health system in general, this is a good place to get it. It is published by KFF, an endowed nonprofit organization that doesn’t appear to be beholden to anyone. All of their content is free to everyone. Currently they have articles on their site about the upheaval at the CDC, confusion around back-to-school vaccine policies, as well as health studies that have been published elsewhere. Another source for public health news is the Public Health Newswire published by the American Public Health Association.
Doing Well – A newsletter from Arizona State University Health, Doing Well’s tagline is “Better health, one story at a time.” Because it’s published on Substack, it does require a free subscription, but they don’t send you too many messages, and you can access the stories through audio as well as reading them. Recent stories have covered how to stay healthy when wildfires are nearby, how to get more fiber in your diet, and a podcast about underhydration. In addition, each newsletter defines a medical term that people might not understand, such as “microbiome” and “epigenetics.”
Women’s Health from Johns Hopkins – This site has comprehensive health and wellness information specifically targeted to women’s health concerns at all ages, including preventive care, sexual health, menopause and stress.
Your Local Epidemiologist – Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is a public health professional and epidemiologist who writes this Substack newsletter (you might be asked to subscribe). I haven’t spent a lot of time with it, but I know several people who speak very highly of her writing, and her ability to translate complicated and confusing information into a form that is easily understandable for laypeople. She currently has a guide to the fall 2025 vaccines on her site.
The medical specialty associations – Organizations dedicated to medical specialties continue to issue their own sets of health guidelines and can be a good source of information for consumers. These include the American Academy of Pediatrics, which still maintains its recommendations for childhood vaccinations, the American Heart Association for heart health information, and the American Psychological Association, which supports mental health and has posts on topics like misinformation and “managing uncertainty in a chaotic work environment.”
And for dealing with stress and finding meaning in life, despite the chaos, check out Greater Good Magazine from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
Finally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the employees, past and present, at the CDC who have tried to do the right thing for the American people – thank you for fighting the good fight.
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