The HPV virus is the primary cause of cervical and anal cancer in the United States. HPV is also the most common sexually transmitted infection with more than 40 HPV types that can infect males and females. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it.

The Gardasil Vaccine is FDA approved to be 90-100% effective in preventing the 4 main types of HPV virus. It provides future protection against not only HPV infection but anal and cervical cancer.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by anal cancer in the United States with likelihood of developing anal cancer 17 times higher than the general population. This project funds a course of preventative vaccinations to 10 male youth classified as high risk. These male youth are homeless or runaways. A course of three Gardasil vaccinations provides protection from the virus for the young man, and also therefore also protects his partners from infection.

The LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-atractional, Transgender and Questioning) population is overly represented in the runaway and homeless youth population and severely underserved. The needs of these young people include the physical needs for shelter, food, clothing and healthcare and may also include addressing the problems of addiction, alcohol abuse and sexual exploitation. Street youth may also have educational gaps that require individualized vocational, employment and life skills training. LGBTQ street youth also face the added burden of dealing with internal conflicts and social ostracism.

• Nationally, about 40% of the 1.7 million runaway and homeless youth self-identify as LGBTQ
• In Detroit alone, up to an estimated 800 homeless LGBTQ youth are on the streets every day
• The National Runaway Switchboard estimates that young people who identify as LGBTQ are seven times more likely to be a victim of crime than their straight peers
• In Michigan, nearly nine out of 10 LGBTQ students experienced verbal harassment in the past year because of their sexual orientation, almost five out of 10 said they had been physically harassed and one in five said they had been physically assaulted

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

10 runaway or homeless male youths will be impacted through access to the HPV vaccine that they would not otherwise have. Each youth will receive a three dose vaccination series over a period of 6 months.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

Assuming that each vaccinated youth will have five sexual partners in his lifetime, the potential impact of this vaccination campaign is 50 people who will not be exposed to HPV.