Healthy Skepticism Library item: 14630

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Javitt G, Berkowitz D, Gostin LO.
Assessing Mandatory HPV Vaccination: Who Should Call the Shots?
The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 2008 Jun 2; 36:(2):384 - 395
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120087700/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Abstract:

In 2007, many legislatures considered, and two enacted, bills mandating HPV vaccination for young girls as a condition of school attendance. Such mandates raise signifcant legal, ethical, and social concerns. This paper argues that mandating HPV vaccination for minor females is premature since long-term safety and efectiveness of the vaccine has not been established, HPV does not pose imminent and signifcant risk of harm to others, a sex specifc mandate raises constitutional concerns, and a mandate will burden fnancially existing government health programs and private physicians. Absent careful consideration and public conversation, HPV mandates may undermine coverage rates for other vaccines.