The HPV vaccine has been in the news a lot lately, & it raises a number of interesting moral and ethical issues. Gardasil (made by Merck & Co) was approved in the United States and the European Union in 2006, & is also approved in a number of other countries. Cervarix, a similar vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline, is expected to be approved in 2007. They’re intended for females ages 9-26 (before their first sexual relationship).
The HPV vaccine has the honor of several “firsts” and “mosts”:
- First vaccine for prevention of a cancer. (It would also reduce the number of abnormal Pap smears, procedures to evaluate abnormal Paps, & procedures on the cervix to remove abnormal tissue.)
- First vaccine for prevention of a sexually transmitted disease.
- First vaccine approved for only one gender (so far).
- First vaccine (that I can think of) for prevention of an asymptomatic infection.
- Most expensive vaccine so far (US$360 for the 3-shot series; plus the cost of administering the shots).
- Most intense lobbying efforts (as far as I know) by a drug company in state legislatures, trying to get laws requiring vaccination passed.
Here are some of the issues:
- Will (or could) HPV vaccination unintentionally promote sexual activity in teens and young adults?
- Should a vaccine be required for school attendance if the condition it prevents is not acutely dangerous, and is not transmitted in the school setting?
- Who should pay for HPV vaccination, especially if it’s mandated? Should tax dollars be used to vaccinate all females ages 9-26 who have medical coverage through government funded programs?
- Is this a good use of resources?
- How can developing countries, where cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer (far more cases than in the U.S.), afford/access/distribute HPV vaccine?
What do you think about the HPV vaccine? these issues? other issues?
Would you choose to have your child vaccinated if you were (or are) a parent?
Who should decide who gets HPV vaccine? Do you think HPV vaccination should be mandated?
Background on HPV and cervical cancer follows, for those who would like more information: Read the rest of this entry »
02-08-2007 |
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