Mandating the HPV Vaccination: A Controversial Debate
Background:
The Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus responsible for cervical cancer. It is one the most common viral sexually transmitted infections. A vaccine was approved in 2006 that is effective in preventing the types of HPV responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. Proposals for routine and mandatory HPV vaccination of girls have become sources of controversy for parents of school-aged youth, legislators, members of the medical community, and the public at large (Cooper et al. 2010).
Evidence Based Arguments against Mandatory HPV Vaccination
Childhood immunizations, such as measles, chicken pox, and polio, are mandatory for school-aged youth and
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As many as 1,400 women in Canada are diagnosed with cancer of the cervix each year. More than 400 die from it (Mah et al, 2011).
Among the many arguments for mandatory HPV vaccination, the foremost is that it is an important medical achievement and a major public health milestone. This vaccine has proven to be one-hundred percent effective in preventing the 4 HPV strains that are responsible for seventy percent of cervical cancers and ninety percent of genital warts. In addition, no serious side effects have been identified. Because this vaccine is a preventive measure, administration before onset of sexual activity is ideal; however, even females who have been sexually active can still benefit from this vaccination (Perkins et al., 2010). Nationally and internationally, the HPV vaccine will significantly reduce disease burden by reducing monetary and psychological costs of invasive procedures that remove precancerous and cancerous lesions. By combining vaccination with routine Pap smear screening, these public health efforts have the remarkable opportunity to eradicate cervical cancer (Ramet et al., 2011).
Another reason HPV vaccination should be mandatory is because health disparities could become even greater if this vaccination is not mandated. Unfortunately, poorer women are more likely to develop HPV infection and develop cervical cancer. The vaccine currently costs 400 dollars for the three rounds of vaccinations in Canada. But because poor women cannot
The HPV vaccine should be required because it saves lives. The HPV vaccine prevents several types of cancers. As stated earlier, the human papillomavirus can cause several types of cancer. The HPV vaccine produces antibodies that prevent the virus from infecting other cells, ultimately eliminating the risk of cancer caused by HPV. There are several statistics indicating that the vaccine saves lives. A study conducted in 2013 shows that since the introduction of the HPV vaccine, the types of HPV targeted by the vaccine have gone done 56% in females from the ages of 14 to 19. In a matter of 7 years, the numbers have reduced tremendously. Another study shows that the rates of HPV vaccines correlates with the rates of cervical cancer.
As the article dives deeper into the HPV vaccine debate some interesting points were brought up. One thing that was very striking was that cervical cancer kills more than five thousand women in America every year and this number increases in developing countries. It would seem that this is enough of a problem to raise a sense of alarm. Another fact that was given was that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. A big reason for this is that there are over two hundred strands of HPV and the diversity of this virus helps it to spread. In order for women to be protected against some of the HPV strands she should receive the vaccine before becoming sexually active. This seems to be the push to get girls vaccinated early. Since the average age of first intercourse is under the age of
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent virus in the human population. Almost all people will be exposed to HPV infections in their lifetime. HPV-associated cancers comprise 5% of all human cancers. Two prophylactic vaccines that are designed to block the four most prevalent HPV types (>150 types) in the genital infection have reduced the incidence in the vaccinated population. However, the vaccines offer no therapeutic effect against pre-existing infections. Furthermore, the vaccination completion rate was 26 % overall. The large unvaccinated population will continue to be at the risk of developing HPV-associated diseases and cancers until an effective treatment is available.
Federal and local mandatory immunization polices has reduced preventable diseases and vaccination is known as the one of the greatest health advancements in the 20th century. Currently, school- aged children are required to get vaccinations unless they are exempt for religious purposes (Salmon, Haber, Gangers, Phillips, Smith, & Chen, 1999). However, there is an infectious disease that is highly preventable and vaccine is available, yet people are contracting the virus. It’s known as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, “…that can be sexually transmitted and result in health
The Human Papilloma Virus, in short terms known as HPV, is a sexually transmitted infection that can potentially lead to cervical cancer and genital warts. All cases of HPV do not cause cervical cancer, only certain strains. Yet, the rising number of deaths from cervical cancer actually caused by HPV has undeniably caught the attention of the public. In response to the cervical cancer death rate, pharmaceutical companies have developed an HPV vaccine. The vaccine was considered a major medicinal breakthrough for some, but raised a number of concerns for others. Although the safety along with the effectiveness of the vaccine has been proven, it continues to originate controversy as both advocates and opponents assess their views of whether
HPV also known as human papillomavirus which is an infectious disease. It is a fact that infectious diseases no longer the leading cause of death and has been replaced by chronic disease as the leading cause of death. Two antibodies have market regard in numerous nations starting called Gardasil and Cervix in the US and this essay will analyze all there is to HPV, risks associated with requiring the HPV vaccine in public schools and more.
Among the 12, 200 new cases of cervical cancer ninety-percent of them are caused or attributed to HPV (ACS).
Human papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV, is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in North America (Dell et al. 2000; Gross 2014). Awareness of human papillomavirus is rather low and is often overshadowed by infections with much more noticeable symptoms such as gonorrhea and syphilis. The disease is usually associated with women due to its association with cervical cancer (Dell et al. 2000), and men are often overlooked. However, males are at risk just as much as females. There is plenty of evidence showing that human papillomavirus has detrimental effects to male health, yet females are usually the ones tested for the disease and are vaccinated. With today’s advancements in medicine, vaccinations should be administered to everyone to vastly reduce the prevalence of human papillomavirus, yet it is the most common STI. If males were vaccinated as much as females, highly preventable effects of human papillomavirus would diminish amongst the world population. Worldwide governments and public health agencies should fund HPV vaccination for males as well as females.
Each year in the United States, about six million cases of the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are diagnosed, and three-fourths of those cases are detected in young men and women between the ages fifteen to twenty-five (Ballaro). Luckily, this epidemic can easily be prevented by receiving an HPV vaccine. Despite the claim that the HPV vaccine was created just for profit, the HPV vaccine is an essential vaccine for preadolescent, adolescent, and young adults to receive in order to prevent HPV and the variety of cancers that it is known to cause.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a virus that can cause both cervical cancer and/or genital warts. In most cases of HPV there are no symptoms and individuals are unaware that they have the virus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). It can be spread through vaginal, anal and oral intercourse and is the most common STI (CDC, n.d.). In 2006 a vaccine was approved to protect against the types of HPV associated with the majority of cervical cancer and genital warts (Gardasil, 2014). I have found through my clinical experience that many parents are unsure if their child should receive the HPV vaccination. There are many factors including baseline knowledge, safety, effectiveness, cost, values/beliefs
The population targeted for the HPV vaccine is males and females 9-26 years of age, preferably before the initiation of sexual activity (Valentino & Poronsky, 2016). The number of male and female adolescents protected by the HPV vaccine falls drastically short of the current “Healthy People 2020 target of 80%” (Valentino & Poronsky, 2016). Failure to educate these adolescents and their caregivers puts them at risk of not receiving the potentially lifesaving vaccine.
I agree with all who have expressed that the HPV vaccination is one that should be advocated more. Many do not understand the severity of contacting HPV. There are also many who question if they should receive the vaccine as well as an even bigger question of whether to vaccinate their children. Whether or not to vaccinate against HPV is confusing which is understand due to it being a loaded issue. There are two known vaccines for the human papilloma virus; Gardasil and Cervarix. Out of the two Gardasil protects against all four of the HPV strains. Cervarix just focuses on the strange that can cause cancer which are number 16 and number 18. The main target of these vaccinations is to prevent cervical cancer within women thing as it is the most
According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). I wasn’t aware that it impacts so many people; SIECUS reports that each year there are approximately 6.2 million new cases of HPV and that 75% of people between ages 15 and 49 have had a genital HPV infection. This isn’t something that I hear about as an adult male in this country. Before conducting research, I was only aware that HPV was tied to cervical cancer and there was a vaccine for young women. In the last decade, the understanding of HPV has increased considerably. Although schools don’t require the vaccination it’s recommended that children age 11-12. People have till their mid-20’s to receive a “catch up” immunization. HPV is responsible for causing more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and more than 60% of penile cancers and HPV is linked to 70% of oropharynx cancers (CDC, 2015). Not all people infected have complications, in fact, most people are asymptomatic and
Throughout this report I will look at evidence from multiple sources in order to gain more knowledge of the Human Papillomavirus as well as the vaccine for it. My report question is based around, should HPV be made compulsory for everyone and whether or not it should be given at such an early age? My report will include aspects on how it works, what HPV is and what it does, How other biological systems such as the immune system contribute, and the side effects of HPV and the vaccine for it. This will be followed by the discussion of two alternating viewpoints for the vaccine and what scientific evidence they have for their cases. As of the start of this report I am completely for the HPV vaccine but this may or may not change towards the end of the report. My report will be rounded off with my own personal thoughts and a strategy on what can be done in the future.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that is believed to be the precursor of several cancers, especially cervical cancer. Scientists have developed two vaccines believed to prevent several strains of the virus. Much controversy has surrounded the birth of these vaccines because law makers want to make the vaccine mandatory for school-aged children. The public is outraged and therefore the controversy regarding the use of the vaccine is growing. However, there are many studies showing that the vaccine is safe to use and that it has been effective in lowering the rate of cervical cancer. The goal of this paper is to discuss the barriers associated with the HPV vaccine for school-aged females