The Pros And Cons Of HPV Vaccine

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Throughout the last decade, there has been a rising epidemic of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children. One of the most common vaccinations that is not being administered is the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, commonly known as HPV Vaccine. Childhood immunization involves a balance between parents’ autonomy in deciding whether to immunize their children and the benefits to public health from mandating such vaccines. Ethical concerns about pediatric vaccination span several public health domains, including those of policymakers, clinicians, and school administrators. This rise in reluctance has provoked the “Personal Choice vs. Public Health” debate among many decision makers. There are many reasons why parents choose against the administration …show more content…
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. 79 million Americans, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cervical cancer in women (CDC). HPV can spread by any sort of sexual acts - oral, vaginal, or anal - given or received. In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause these health issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all girls and boys receive the three-dose series of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, between ages 11 and 12 to protect against HPV. Only 60% of Americans have received the vaccine. Even with its low uptake, the vaccine is having a positive effect in this country — HPV prevalence among young women dropped from nearly 12 percent before the vaccine was available to just over 5 percent in the four years following its introduction. With all of this information, one should infer that receiving this vaccine is beneficial to not only their health, but the health of those around …show more content…
Most parents of unvaccinated children believe they are trying to protect their child from vaccines' possible harm, despite medical evidence to the contrary. Parents are terrified that vaccines will worsen the neuropsychological conditions of children with existing problems. They do not want to put other children at risk of death or other harmful side effects, even though there has been a substantial amount of studies and research that shows little to no evidence of death actually occurring (Zimet, 2013). To coincide with parents feeling misinformed, they also feel as if they are losing their autonomy to the doctor. Although doctors are well informed on the issues that they are addressing with a certain family, it is ultimately up to the family to make the decisions based on theirs and the doctor’s opinion. The doctor can give their opinions on what they think the best course of action is, but they cannot make the decision for the family. The major challenge here is how to most effectively communicate this information to parents, young adults, adolescents, and school and state legislatures so that higher HPV vaccination rates can be achieved. Health Care Provider recommendation is among the most important determinants of HPV vaccination. They are also a large