‌New School Requirements from AB-659, the Cancer Prevention Act

‌To:  California County/District Superintendents and School Principals

With the approval of Assembly Bill No. 659, the Cancer Prevention Act, there are amendments to the Health and Safety Code and Education Code that require your attention and action. 

What are schools required to do by the Cancer Prevention Act? 

Effective January 1, 2024, the Cancer Prevention Act requires that every public and private school notify 6th grade students and their parents/guardians that they are advised to follow current human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization guidelines before starting 8th grade. (Most children in this age group are recommended to receive 2 doses of HPV vaccine.) The Act seeks to help reduce the burden of cancers caused by HPV in California. The Act also includes requirements for California Universities and the Department of Managed Health Care. Read more about the Cancer Prevention Act here.  

What resources are available to help me meet the requirements of the Cancer Prevention Act? 

The California Department of Public Health has developed the following resources to assist you in implementing the Cancer Prevention Act: 

• Template letter to families, which includes all details specified in Assembly Bill No. 659 that are required to be communicated to families. (Additional translations will soon be available at Shots for School, Implementation Tools, under “Materials to Help Implement the Law.”) 
• Robocall script to families, a supplement to the template letter which also includes all details specified in Assembly Bill No. 659 that are required to be communicated to families. 
• Parents’/Guardians’ Guide to Immunizations Required for School Entry with information about vaccines required for school entry and additional vaccines that are routinely recommended for school-aged children that can accompany the above template letter. (Find additional translations at Shots for School, Resources for Parents.)  
• Vaccines for Your Preteen flyer, a resource with supplemental information about both school-required and routinely recommended vaccines for 11-and-12-year-olds that can accompany the above template letter. (Find additional translations under Immunization Promotional Materials.)  

How else can schools support the Cancer Prevention Act? 

School-located vaccination events are a highly effective way of ensuring immunization of students. By including HPV vaccine at these events, schools can make sure that students have every opportunity to be protected against cancers caused by HPV. Find resources for vaccination events on Shots for School, Resources for School-Located Vaccination Events. 

For more information about school immunization requirements and resources, please visit: www.shotsforschool.org/. For questions, email us at shotsforschool@cdph.ca.gov.  

Thank you, 

California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch 

Shots For School

‌‌California Department of Public Health | Immunization Branch
850 Marina Bay Pkwy
Richmond CA 94804
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