HPV: The Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infection

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Introduction
The most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) is human papillomavirus (HPV) (CDC, 2013). Over half of sexually activity people will become infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime (National Cancer Institute, 2012). HPV can fall into two categories: low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Low-risk HPV, also known as HPV types 6 and 11, cause about 90% of genital warts (National Cancer Institute, 2012). High-risk HPV, also known as HPV types 16 and 18, causes about 70% of cervical cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2012).
There are two HPV vaccines available for females (Cervarix and Gardasil) that protect against cervical cancer (CDC, 2013). The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the vaccine be given to girls 11-12 years old and can be given as young as 9 years old (Armstrong, 2010). Since the Food and Drug Administration approved Cervarix and Gardasil, state legislators have being working to pass laws to require HPV vaccination for young girls before they enter school (Javitt, Berkowitz, & Gostin, 2008).
Case Study 6.3 Summary
In a state with high rates of cervical cancer and a low rate of HPV vaccination, a public health director has some decisions to make (Shi & Johnson, 2014). The state health department was given two options to help increase HPV vaccination rates: 1) require HPV vaccination for entrance into school for girls 11-12 years old, or 2) provide the HPV vaccine at a reduced cost for individuals who are at high risk for HPV (Shi & Johnson, 2014). It is the responsibility of the public health director to determine which option is the most ethical decision (Shi & Johnson, 2014).
Traditionally, mandatory vaccines for entrance into school ...

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...Alexandra. (2008). Childhood Vaccine and School Entry Laws: The Case of HPV Vaccine. Association of Schools of Public Health, 123 (6). 801-803. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556726/.
Sudenga, Staci L., Royse, Kathryn E., Shrestha, Sadeep. (2011). Role and Uptake of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Adolescent Health in the United States. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 2 (95). 63-74. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3804132/#!po=18.7500.
Vamos, Cheryl A., McDermott, Robert J., Daley, Ellen M. (2008). The HPV Vaccine: Framing the Arguments For and Against Mandatory Vaccination of all Middle School Girls. Journal of School Health, 78 (6). Retrieved from: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-s.mercer.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=27c6f632-6791-45fb-890d-cc57a6527ece@sessionmgr4002&hid=4214&vid=10.

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