Parents Refuse Their Girls HPV Vaccine

Fears of Sexual Promiscuity Threaten Gardasil Health Campaign

Dec 28, 2008 K. Aleisha Fetters

Public concern about teenage promiscuity hinder the use of a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent life-threatening cancer, according to a new study.

The researchers, from the Yale School of Public Health, found that despite an ongoing public health campaign promoting the vaccination of girls against HPV, the public believes that potential increases in sexual activity outweighs the health benefits.

An estimated 11,000 women in the United States alone were diagnosed in 2007 with invasive cervical cancer, which the vaccine, Gardasil, protects against by reducing risk for contracting certain strains of HPV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the HPV vaccination series for girls between 11 and 12 years old (and also to administer catch-up vaccinations to young women between 13 and 26 years old).

The vast majority of those 326 U.S. adults surveyed in the Yale study believed scientific findings that the risk of cervical cancer and genital warts (which are largely spread through sexual contact) are far lower with the HPV vaccine.

But currently less than 25 percent of the target population has received even one of the three recommended vaccinations, far below the target needed to maximize the vaccine's potential public health benefit and minimize outbreaks.

Concerns About Sexual Promiscuity

If parents understand the health benefit of the vaccine, why are so many people refusing to have their girls vaccinated with Gardasil?

Because, as found in the study, most adults believe their girls’ adolescent sexual activity will nearly double if they receive the vaccine. Concern about increased sexual intercourse was the single largest factor in the decision not to vaccinate, according to researchers.

Educational programs that address specific public concerns might be needed to convince parents that the vaccine's benefits outweigh any risk of increased sexual activity.

Still, no studies have found that receiving the vaccine results in sexual promiscuity during females' teen years.

In the past, the public's unwillingness to participate has hurt many controversial health campaigns. Human psychology is a determining factor in the public's decision to take--or refuse--scientific recommendations.

Money Matters

In the study, financial considerations also influenced individuals’ choices to vaccinate or not.

The researchers found that even with health insurance and other financial assistance, the average family still had to spend $181 out of pocket to provide a child with all three vaccinations.

The researchers estimated that the price of each vaccination would have to be cut by $55 per dose to significantly sway parents to have their girls vaccinated.

Reference

Sanjay Basu, Gretchen B. Chapman, Alison P. Galvani. "Integrating epidemiology, psychology, and economics to achieve HPV vaccination targets." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008; 105 (48).

The copyright of the article Parents Refuse Their Girls HPV Vaccine in Women’s Health is owned by K. Aleisha Fetters. Permission to republish Parents Refuse Their Girls HPV Vaccine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

The CDC Recommends Gardasil for Girls