Laura Burson

4/26/2015
Biology 1090

Should Vaccination for HPV be mandated for teenage

girls?

Both Joseph E. Balog and Gail Javitt make compelling arguments while
addressing the topic of mandatory vaccination. This topic is quite timely because of
the recent outbreak of measles which originated at Disneyland and spread to more
than 5 western states and has been linked to the lack of vaccinations.
We can find statistics which indicate that more than 25% of teen girls are
infected with HPV and the older group of 20-24 year old girls is infected at nearly
50%. The issue then becomes the onset of cervical cancer which is the second most
common cancer after breast cancer and happens to most women early in life during
their child bearing years with more than 80% in developing countries where health
care is not as advanced as ours. The numbers in the U.S. are small but significant
with 11,000 new cases annually and 3,700 deaths. These chances are relatively low
due to testing and follow-up care.
Balog shows the FDA has approved a vaccine that protects against 70% of the
cancer causing types of HPV and then the Centers for Disease

Control

recommended vaccination of 11-12 year old girls.

Mr. Balog supports compulsory vaccination and his justification hinges on the
historical anecdotes from The 1950s Polio outbreak and the subsequent mandatory
vaccinations which have all but eliminated the dreaded illness. The question

Laura Burson
4/26/2015
Biology 1090

becomes is the utility and good of a compulsory vaccine in preventing harm

greater than the utility and good of preserving individual liberty and choice. Other
issues include the parents choice to keep their children from the vaccine and does
this outweigh the emotional and financial toll on society. Balog does address the
issues raised by those who would stand against compulsory vaccination on scientific
and personal grounds with questions regarding the unspecified definition of
imminent harm given the low rates of morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer
by referring to the vaccine as a tool in the toolbox of those attempting to improve
the lives of women.
Ms. Javitt supports the non-vaccination her justification is arrived through the
following points the question of long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine
because it is unknown even though clinical trials have concluded it is safe and
effective. More importantly and perhaps more in question is the opinion that the
Historical justification for mandated vaccination have not been met because the
issue affects only girls and the HPV virus is almost solely passed between people
through sexual contact which raises the arguments of abstinence education versus
sexual education. Herd Immunity Theory which proposes that as more members of
the group are vaccinated will lower the number of those possibly infected in the
future is another part of the argument but there is no relation in this area, as no
quantitative evidence to support this theory. The concern of backlash to government
intervention in private lives is raised and does have some relevance because of the
other issues that have been raised, especially the concern that the threshold for
intervention and mandatory vaccination has not been reached.

Laura Burson
4/26/2015
Biology 1090

I feel that the points made by Mr. Balog are more substantiated and
scientifically accurate than the emotional opinions expressed by Ms. Javitt and
although it may be uncomfortable to approach the subject of sexually transmitted
diseases with 11-12 year old girls, their long term health and the benefits of that
health to society out way these uncomfortable situations.

In closing though, both authors have valid points the emotional tone of
the anti-mandatory vaccination article and tone it communicates make it
more of an opinion than a clinical evaluation and therefore I find the article in
support of mandatory vaccination more persuasive and substantive.
Although I value personal liberty and understand the apprehension of some
the safety and health of the majority seems to outweigh the wishes of the
few.