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Essay about Arguments for and Against Mandatory Vaccination

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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 …show more content…

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

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