New cervical cancer screening guidelines

So how are the updated recommendations meant to improve compliance and screening and reduce the risk of cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is one of those only cancers, I would say, when we think of the reproductive system, that really has the ability to be eradicated because of screening. So cervical cancer is preventable through regular screening with your doctor. And when we look at the numbers that there used to be in the '70s before the Pap test with the combination of HPV testing was done, this is what we have seen. The rates have fallen by 70%. But obviously we want that goal to be 100%. Now, with these changes-- now, this doesn't always align with some of the other recommendations that we've seen in other organizations, such as ACOG and USPSTF. But I do think it can be challenging. Because when we started the age of 25, again, we are now taking out women who might be at the age of 21 and may have some cervical changes that could be tended to by their physician. And the other thing is, when we do testing for someone else to do by their selves, there is the potential that what they're screening for, or what they're testing by themselves may not be as adequate of what a healthcare provider might be able to do in the office setting.

All right. Let me ask you, Doctor, about the CDC vaccine panel, which is now getting ready to vote on changing the hepatitis B shot recommendation for babies. Explain that decision. Explain your thoughts on it and what could be on the way. We have been seeing a lot of different changes with HHS with this administration. And the goal really is how do we create the conversation between a healthcare provider and a patient and/or a parent in this instance, where they can get better clarity to make a better decision. Now, hepatitis B is actually primarily transmitted by blood and bodily fluids and is really contagious. And it's also incurable. So the goal with giving these vaccines at birth really has a very important reason. And so when it's given to newborns within the first 24 hours of birth, known as the birth dose, that is up to 90% effective at preventing infection if the mother is infected. And if babies receive the full three doses, 98% of them have immunity from the illness. So now we're going from an illness, which is very contagious and also is incurable, to really providing immunity for the baby, which at the time of birth don't really have a really robust immune system. So the goal is, how do we create this conversation for parents to understand, to make the best decision for themselves and their newborn? So I think that there's going to be a lot of pushback from the American College of Pediatrics when we look at hepatitis B and trying to eliminate disease versus having to potentially having a transmission of the disease and having an incurable disease that now has to be tended to and also taken care of for an infant.

Important information there from Dr. Jessica Shepherd. Thank you as always, Doctor. We appreciate you. Thanks so much.