Step UP Vax Up
Step Up Vax Up is an awareness campaign that highlights the importance of vaccines for college students and young adults. For all adults, including young and healthy people, vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from preventable diseases. Vaccines can protect against numerous viral diseases, including the flu, HPV, and MPox. Young adults and college students may be more at risk for these infections due to living in close quarters and sexual activity.
Get the facts below and get vaccinated today! Visit your campus health center, local pharmacy, or physician. You can also visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine location near you.
Click on a topic below to learn more.
HPV (human papillomavirus)
HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. HPV is preventable. Vaccination can protect against diseases caused by HPV, including cervical cancer and genital warts.
HPV Facts:
- HPV causes around 36,000 cases of cancer each year in the United States, including cervical cancer.
- HPV vaccination can prevent 90% of these cancers and the infections that cause them.
- HPV vaccination protects you for 10+ years with no evidence of the protection decreasing over time.
Learn more:
Flu
The flu is a contagious and sometimes deadly respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.
Vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalizations and death. In 2023 – 2024, the flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu medical visits by half and hospitalizations by 40% for vaccinated adults.
You should receive a flu shot every year because the flu virus changes quickly, and immunity decreases over time.
Learn more about the flu:
MPox
MPox is a viral disease related to smallpox that often causes a skin rash or lesions.
MPox can be transmitted by close or intimate contact – including kissing, touching, and other sexual activity – with a person infected by MPox. MPox can also be spread by direct contact with an infected animal or contaminated objects like clothing or bedding used by an infected person. Young adults are at a higher risk for MPox than the general population.
- People with MPpox often get a rash and may have other symptoms like fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.
- Symptoms usually start within 21 days of exposure.
- Visit a healthcare provider if you have a new or unexplained rash, especially after contact with someone who has MPox.
Getting vaccinated with two doses can prevent MPox and reduce severity of the illness if exposed.
Learn more about MPox vaccinations from the New Jersey Department of Health.
Additional Resources
View these resources to learn more about vaccination risk and where to get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is the source for the medical information provided in this campaign, and the links can be viewed below.
- HPV Content – About Genital HPV Infection
- Flu Content – Flu Signs and Symptoms and Flu – What’s New – 2023-2024 Vaccines Reduce Medical Visits
- MPox Content – MPox – Vaccines and MPox – HCP – Vaccine Considerations
Funding is made possible by The New Jersey Department of Health. The New Jersey Department of Health is a nationally accredited health department working to ensure that all New Jerseyans live long, healthy lives and reach their fullest potential. With more than 5,500 employees, the Department serves to protect the public’s health, promote healthy communities, and continue to improve the quality of health care in New Jersey.