The Cancer Prevention Act, or AB 659​

The Cancer Prevention Act, Assembly Bill 659 (Aguiar-Curry, 2023), was signed by the Governor in fall of 2023 with the goal of helping to reduce the burden of cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). See changes to the Health and Safety Code and Education Code.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Cancer Prevention Act requires:

• Every public and private school to notify 6th grade students and their parents or guardians they are advised to follow current HPV immunization guidelines before starting 8th grade.
• UC, CSU, and CA Community Colleges to notify students who are 26 years of age or younger they are advised to follow current HPV immunization guidelines before first-time enrollment in college. (See college and university immunization​ recommendations.)

Notifications to 6^th grade students and their parents/guardians must include:

• Summary of recommended ages for HPV vaccine and scientific rationale for full vaccination at those ages based on ACIP, AAP, and AAFP guidance.
• Information statement that, “HPV vaccination can prevent over 90 percent of cancers caused by HPV. HPV vaccines are very safe, and scientific research shows that the benefits of HPV vaccination far outweigh the potential risks.”
  

CDPH has created the following resources to assist with implementation:

• Template letter to families (PDF) – includes all details specified in AB 659 that are required to be communicated to families.
  Spanish(PDF) | Arabic (PDF) | Armenian (P​DF) | Cambodian (PDF) | Chinese (Simplified) (PDF)
  | Farsi (PDF)| Hindi (PDF)| Hmong (PDF) | Japanese (PDF) | Korean (PDF) | Punjabi (PDF) 
  | Russian (PDF)| Thai (PDF) | Tagalog (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)
  
• Robocall script (PDF) to families – supplement to template letter
• Parents’/Guardians’ Guide to Immunizations Required for School Entry (PDF) – information about school-required and routinely recommended vaccines. Can accompany letter. (Available in multiple languages.)
  

Resources for Schools, Parents, and Guardians

• Vaccines for Your Preteen (PDF)
• Why Age 9? HPV Vaccine Fact Sheet (PDF)
• HPV Vaccine Parent Handout (PDF) (cancer.org)
• Information on minor consent for HPV vaccination
• HPV PSA led by University of California San Diego Health Pediatrics (video)
• HPV-The Cancer Prevention Vaccine | Fact Check: FAQs on Kid’ Vaccines (video)