HPV Vaccination Case Study

To begin I wanted to research articles that explored the question. In “Ethics and Childhood Vaccination Policy in the United States” Kristin S. Hendrix discusses the flaws childhood vaccination policies have on ethical principles. Hendrix begins by addressing the resurgence of disease due to lack of immunization, and attributes it to differing vaccine attitudes and behaviors, and their influence on child immunization decisions. Hendrix argues that, “…vaccine-hesitant attitudes… may be driven by religious reasons, skepticism about science, or the influence of personalities she trusts on other matters” (Hendrix 273). She also acknowledges

The HPV vaccine reception has been similar to that of the hepatitis vaccine in that both are seen as an attack on morality, and are considered by some as a license for promiscuity. In the book Vaccine Allen quotes, ‘ “ If a 10- or 12-year-old is given a vaccine to protect against a sexually transmitted disease, then it’s implied they’d be engaging in risky sexual behavior,” said Pia de Solenni, director of “life and women’s issues” for the Family Research Council’ (433). The fact that HPV lives in the sexual organs and is spread by sexual intercourse or intravenous drug use has caused many parents to come to the belief that their children are not at risk. Some parents go so far as to suggest that if

HPV vaccinations bring up many public health and ethical issues. Some states want to require vaccines for school attendance. In the academic journal article “HPV Vaccination’s Second Act: Promotion, Competition, and Compulsion”, author Jason Schwartz states that, “Although some argue that HPV vaccines should never be mandated for school attendance, the temptation for policymakers to revisit this ethical and policy debate must be resisted until HPV vaccination has successfully become a routine, trusted component of adolescent medical care” (Schwartz). This train of thought exemplifies the opposition to HPV vaccination in this country, which restricts us in immunizing possible victims as effectively as possible. If the ignorance towards the vaccine continues, there will not be a powerful impact in decreasing rates of HPV infections.

Healthcare plays a crucial part in our lives. Health disparities “phrase references black-white differences as well health disadvantages characteristic of other ethnic groups “of color,” such as Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans” (Coreil, 2010 p. 167). Many socio-ecological factors that contribute to the existence of health disparities when it comes immunizations. An individual ability to have access to health care, insurance status, income level, provider and patient knowledge have a significant impact on vaccination rates.

Every child born in America is unique: whether it be because of skin color, hair color, birth weight, complications while still in the womb, or difficulties at birth. Yet when it comes to vaccinations they are all treated equal and are expected to follow the government recommended vaccination schedule. Once these vaccinations have been given, they cannot be removed from a child’s body. The harm they may have caused a child, cannot be reversed. Parents need to be aware of what is in these vaccines and the possible harmful effects they can have on their child. While the official cause of autism has not been clearly determined, parents of young children and expecting parents need to be aware that research shows a definite link between

Imagine to the toll it would take on a family who can’t make the decision on whether or not they should immunize their children. One case involving a woman named Lori Matheson of Walled Lake, refused to vaccine her two-year-old daughter, citing health concerns and religious objections. Michael Schmitt, Matheson’s Ex-husband, took her to court over the matter. She asked the court to delay any ruling until she had the chance to follow through with genetic testing on the little girl, to see if she was prone to any vaccine related injuries. Matheson and Schmitt had disputed for months over the issue, before finalizing on the decision to take the issue to court. A 40-year-old Kansas resident and his wife fell into a terrible ongoing conflict when he wanted to vaccine their three-year-old daughter, and she did not. He debated going behind her back and getting their daughter vaccined, and dealing with the consequences later. Shortly after they had to put matters into official’s hands. There are many cases involving parents who follow through with a

It takes away our rights protected by the first amendment by forcing people to inject things in their bodies that go against their religious, philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Conversely, the only exemption for not getting the vaccinations is the medical exemption, which is almost impossible to get even if you had a previous severe adverse side effect to another vaccine.

Controversy concerning the risks of vaccinations will always exist. As is the nature of a preventative intervention, it is difficult to rationalize giving a completely healthy child an injection that is known to have varying degrees of sides affects5. Additionally, these injections are to provide immunity to children for diseases that have an extremely low risk of circulating within a population. Since these vaccines have been able to protect so many individuals from experiencing these dangerous infections, most parents do not even have personal experiences regarding the impact of these diseases. As such, many parents do not see the vaccine-preventable disease as a threat to their child. This often causes parents to not fully understand the risk their child has for contracting a disease and the subsequent danger of a vaccine-preventable disease infection verses the potential side effect of a vaccine which is normally only mild to moderate discomfort for their child15.

I agree with Lantos, Jackson and Harrison (2012) that personal belief exemptions should not be allowed when it comes to vaccinating children. However, Opel and Diekema do make a good point about changing the way exemptions are made and could be a possibility in the future before completely. I do, however still believe that all parents try to make a choice based on the best interest of their child but in this circumstance they are not only choosing for their own child but are putting other children at risk in the process. This is what I don’t agree with. Many parents have said that it goes against their religious freedoms, or they don’t want to be forced to do something but I believe those are not good enough reasons unless the risks are outweighing the benefits through allergy or medical condition.

There are several religious exemptions that followers can seem to justify but some cases seem to be outrageous and a threat to society. One of these exemptions being, religious vaccine exemption which seems to be a controversial topic even in today’s society. Although, there is not an abundance of religious followers who are against vaccination a few do seem to rise publicly once in a while which leads to a media frenzy. Religions such as, Christian Scientists and the Dutch Reformed Church are some of the religions in the past having followers known of creating controversy in this topic. In which then, stirs the public on establishing an opinion on who to side with and what is right and wrong. For example, there are cases where children entering schools are not vaccinated due to their parent’s religious beliefs. Should this extreme violation towards safety be allowed? No, I believe that most cases of religious vaccine exemptions are morally unjustifiable and wrong.

While personal choice concerns to those who oppose the HPV vaccine, promiscuity concerns them the most. Many parents, women support groups, and religious leaders worry that mandating the vaccine will give teenagers one less reason to abstain from sexual activities. The

HPV vaccinations have been involved in some heated debates involving the general public and the government for some time now; whether the vaccine is worth being administered to young girls is the underlying question and if so at what cost. In the articles “HPV Vaccine Texas Tyranny” and “The HPV Debate” both authors Mike Adams and Arthur Allen provide enlightening information on why the HPV vaccinations should not be mandated through legislation, Adams conveys his bias and explains how the government is over stepping its boundaries when it comes to the publics’ health while Allen on the other hand, is more opt to present analytical data on previous cases similar to the one he is currently facing.

Should children’s health be at risk for the greater good of community health? The news today is full of tragic stories about complications of vaccine use and there have been injuries from the beginning of vaccine use due to incomplete data on the side effects. The injuries have also brought about changes in the way vaccines are manufactured. The Georgia State Government requires citizens to receive vaccines in order to attend day care, go to school, and work at certain jobs and each state has its own mandates as well. The only way to get around the vaccine is to claim religious or medical exception. For either of these exceptions, one has to have a notarized affidavit for religious exception or a

According to the History of Vaccinations currently, “Forty-eight states allow exemptions to vaccination for religious reasons” ( par. 10). Some states statutes indicate that to receive a religious exemption, a family must belong to a religious group with bonafide objections to

Despite vaccinations being credited for the control and elimination of several childhood diseases, there are still many critics who raise concerns about the necessity of vaccination. In a national study of parents performed in 2000, 19% indicated they had “concerns about vaccines” whereas in a subsequent survey performed in 2009 this number had risen to 50%. There has also been a rise in non-medical vaccine exemptions that has occurred over the last several years. In a 2010 national survey of physicians, 89% of respondents reported at least one vaccine refusal by a parent each month (Dempsey & Gowda, 2013). Opposers argue that making school vaccination mandatory is against their right to make personal medical decisions. They feel that the government has no place to force parents to vaccinate their children if the parents decide it is not in their child’s best interest. Many parents are disagreeable about the multiple vaccinations received at one time, which results in possible pain and discomfort for the child. Another argument against vaccination is the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Critics are concerned about the unknown risks vaccines pose to children. Some parents noted their child acquiring a “high fever” or beginning to “act different” after the administration of a vaccine. There is a belief that there is a connection between the measles vaccination and autism. Another theory is that the influenza