HPV Vaccination Case Study Analysis

Summary of the Six Stakeholders

During the legislative session, six stakeholders presented their perspectives on whether the HPV vaccine should be required for school entry. Each played a distinct role in the debate: HPV Vaccination Case Study Analysis.

Dr. Jenner (pediatrician/FDA Representative))

Supported the mandate. She presented data on Gardasil’s FDA approval, its safety, and its recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) (p 104, para 8). She highlighted that routine vaccination for girls aged 11-12 aligns with national health guidelines (p 104, para 9).

Ms. Vincent, Public Health and Policy Expert (p.106 para 1 witness 2).

Supported the HPV vaccine mandate, arguing that school immunization laws are effective, legally justified, and improve public health. She assured the committee that Medicaid and SCHIP funding covers vaccines for low-income families, making the mandate financially feasible and ensuring widespread protection against cervical cancer.

Ms. Espinoza Parent (p. 109 para 1 witness 5).

Supported compulsory taking of the HPV vaccine while opposing what they call an ‘abstinence only’ policy. For vaccination, she said vaccination could prevent cancer in children and also tore down sexual education programs that are ineffective while supporting health measurement against parents’ embarrassment, provided there are exemptions such as religion or medical.

Mr. Samuels (Parent and Vocal Opponent)

Opposed the HPV vaccine mandate, arguing that Gardasil’s approval was rushed, its safety was questionable, and pharmaceutical companies had financial motives (p. 108 para 3). He favored cervical cancer screening over vaccination and emphasized parental rights in medical decisions (p 108, para 6).

Mrs. Patterson (Strong Advocate for the HPV Vaccine Mandate)

Passionately supported mandating the HPV vaccine, believing it could save lives and prevent families from enduring the pain of losing a loved one to cervical cancer (p 110, para 9).

Mrs. Ellsworth (Vocal Opponent of the HPV Vaccine Mandate)

Opposed the HPV vaccine mandate, arguing that it was a violation of parental rights, unnecessary for school attendance, and a threat to family values (p 107 para 1). She supported abstinence-only education and rejected the idea of government involvement in legislating medical choices for children (p 107 para 2).

Compelling Arguments in Support of the HPV Vaccine Mandate

Two of the most compelling arguments in favor of the HPV vaccine mandate were presented by Dr. Jenner (Pediatrician/FDA Representative) and Ms. Vincent (Public Health and Policy Expert).

Dr. Jenner – Safety, FDA Approval, and Public Health Guidelines

The evidence that Dr. Jenner uses is factual and research-driven and comes with recommendations from medical practitioners and health organizations within the country. As a public health support, she establishes her focal points of safety, effectiveness and the national guidelines as persuasive evidence in favor of the mandate.

Ms. Vincent Public Health and Policy Expert

Ms. Vincent refuted other criticisms, specifically hinging on legal grounds and cost as the major hurdles to vaccine mandates. These assurances were comforting to lawmakers because they knew the policy was efficient and accessible for all financial classes of families.

Most Compelling Arguments Against the HPV Vaccine Mandate

Two of the most compelling arguments against the HPV vaccine mandate were presented by Mr. Samuels (Parent and Vocal Opponent) and Mrs. Ellsworth (Vocal Opponent of the Mandate).

Mr. Samuels (p 108 para 5)

Mr. Samuels’ argument resonates with parents who prioritize medical autonomy and safety concerns. The suggestion that the vaccine was rushed and may have unknown risks creates doubt about its necessity and justifies parental choice over government mandates.

Mrs. Ellsworth (p 107 para 1)

Mrs. Ellsworth’s argument targets parents and communities who have strong perspectives on personal freedom and traditionalism. She does this by positioning the mandate as a threat to the family’s rights and integrity, as well as the principle of children being forced to make a medical decision.

Effectiveness of Vaccine Mandates as a Public Health Policy

Immunization mandates have been among the most successful public health measures for lowering the transmission of infectious diseases for a very extended period. Requirements for immunization against infections like hepatitis B, polio, and measles have raised immunization coverage effectively, leading to great declines in the incidence of infection (Kuznetsova et al., 2021).

Implementing this same strategy with HPV would be similarly effective, in particular in decreasing cervical cancer and other HPV illnesses. Yet, HPV differs from other vaccine-preventable illnesses in that it is not spread through casual contact, thus the argument for a school mandate is less compelling. Although effective, mandates also risk public opposition, especially on matters of personal freedom, parental choice, and religious interests.

Mandates can be made less controversial by being paired with strong public education campaigns that offer straightforward information on vaccine safety and advantages. HPV vaccine mandates generally can be beneficial, but their application would have to be specially crafted to weigh public health advantages against the rights of individuals.

Recommendation to the Legislative Committee

Based on the evidence presented in the case study, I recommend that the legislative committee approve the HPV vaccine mandate with an opt-out provision for religious or personal beliefs. This approach ensures a high vaccination rate while respecting individual freedoms.

Rationale for this Recommendation

Mandating the HPV vaccine offers significant public health benefits by reducing the risk of cervical and other cancers while increasing immunization rates to protect future generations also results in cost benefits in the long run since it reduces health cost implications of diseases linked to HPV (Mehlman & Lederman, 2020). The presence of an opt-out clause fulfills opposition arguments by granting parents with personal or religious issues a chance to opt out. Previous requirements for school-entry vaccines have focused on the promotion of increased student immunization as well as the reduction of incidences of diseases. Therefore, the idea of having a well-coordinated mandate with exclusion is an effective way of meeting public health goals without infringing on the rights of individuals.

References

Kuznetsova, L., Cortassa, G., & Trilla, A. (2021). Effectiveness of Mandatory and Incentive-Based Routine Childhood Immunization Programs in Europe: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Vaccines, 9(10), 1173. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9101173

Mehlman, M. J., & Lederman, M. M. (2020). Compulsory Immunization Protects Against Infection: What Law and Society Can Do. Pathogens and Immunity, 5(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v5i1.344

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

---

Assignment #3

PH 528

Directions: Read the “HPV Vaccination Case Study”, which outlines competing viewpoints on whether HPV vaccination should be required for school entry. Respond to the following questions, with each response a minimum of 150 words.

Due Date: Upload your assignment to Blackboard as a .doc or .docx file by 11:59 PM on Sunday 2/9.

Questions:

1. Summarize the six stakeholders who presented at the legislative session, including their profession/role and their stance on the issue.

 

2. What do you think were the most compelling arguments provided in support of the vaccine mandate? Discuss arguments from at least two different witnesses.
   

   HPV Vaccination Case Study Analysis

 

3. What do you think were the most compelling arguments provided against the vaccine mandate? Discuss arguments from at least two different witnesses.

 

4. In your opinion, is mandating vaccinations an effective public health policy? Why or why not?

 

5. After reading the entire case study, what recommendation would you make to the legislative committee about whether the HPV vaccine should be required for school entry? Explain your position.

Case Study Source: Hunting, K.L. & Gleason, B.L. (2012). Essential Case Studies in Public Health: Putting Public Health into Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.