The consideration of making the human
papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine mandatory brought about much controversy. The controversy lies in whether or not making
the vaccine mandatory inadvertently suggests a false sense of security
suggesting having sexual activity after being vaccinated regardless of age at
the time is “ok” as well as the removal of parental autonomy and the ability to
decide for or against vaccination. With
that being said, let me inform you of some of the pros and cons of the HPV
vaccine so you yourself can make a more informed decision when it comes to HPV
vaccination.
Pros:
- The HPV vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer in females if it is given prior to exposure to HPV.
- The HPV vaccines currently available (Gardasil and Ceravix) one of which is for both males and females and guards against the strains of HPV that have been found to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of genital warts which are a sign of HPV (CDC, 2012)
- The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Centers have approved the vaccine for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cons:
- The HPV vaccine does not protect against all strains of the HPV virus.
- Some individuals may feel as though the recommended age of 11-12 years of age is too young be vaccinated against a virus that is acquired through sexual contact and may not vaccinate their child prior to the onset of sexual activity.
- The HPV vaccine may provide females with a false sense of security against sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer.
Reference:
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
(2012). HPV vaccine information for
clinicians- Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-vaccine-hcp.htm
1 comment:
Hello Irma, I know there has been much controversy over whether or not the HPV vaccine should be mandatory. I feel it should be mandatory as it is a protective measure. I do not feel that it provides false hope, but like all immunizations, it protects against a specific virus. I feel that we need to educate the population on what it does and what it protects against. We need to also inform that other forms of viruses can be contracted and cause cervical cancer. We need to b transparent.
Monique
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