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HPV vaccine bogus controversy

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People used to think that if you didn’t smoke or chew tobacco, you would never have to worry about developing oral cancer. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case and recent clinical research has proven otherwise; finding that human papillomavirus is a major culprit for oral cancer. New research also suggests that vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) may greatly reduce oral HPV infections that are a major risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer. There has been some resistance to the vaccine by several parents for various reasons. What would it take to change the ideas of parents who are neglecting to comply and realize the importance of this vaccine to address this public health crisis? These parents disagree on vaccination requirements with unproven risks for their children, which is endangering public health with the spread of preventable infectious diseases, some resulting in cancer; suggesting a call to action for the implementation of a mandatory nationwide HPV vaccination requirement for all pre-teens, both male and female. In the United States, there is a serious lack of compliance to complete the recommended series of HPV vaccinations in youth. This is an urgent public health concern that will directly lead to the further spread of a preventable infectious disease, currently affecting 80 million Americans who are infected with the virus. Some of the cancer statistics connected to human papillomavirus are astounding. Dr. Gillison, who recently conducted an oropharyngeal cancer study at Ohio State University, stated that “it is the fastest-rising cancer among young white men in the United States” (NCI Staff, 2017). This type of cancer is less than obvious and not spoken about, but one of the most aggressive and common cancers affecting young people. It is also extremely hard to treat and located in a very sensitive region of the body that is not easily accessible. Another statistic to take note of is the high rate of incidence between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer: About 70% of oropharyngeal cancers are caused by high-risk HPV infection, and the incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer has been increasing in the United States in recent decades. In the United States, more than half of oropharyngeal cancers are linked to a single high-risk HPV type, HPV 16, which is one of the types covered by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved HPV vaccines. (NCI Staff, 2017, para. 3) If a vaccine is not widely accepted and administered, it endangers those who are unable to take the vaccine. According to Silverman and Wiley (2017), if a percentage of unvaccinated individuals rises above a specific threshold, all who lack individual immunity are at risk. There are several reasons that compliance with the HPV vaccine is subpar in the United States. The number one reason that clinicians can expect refusal from parents is based upon social media-based information supporting what has been called the anti-vaccination movement. This is not a new theory and has existed in both the 19th and 20th centuries. As explained by Cappelli, et al. (2014), the main reasons for refusal are: vaccines cause idiopathic illness, fear of errors with vaccines, vaccines insult human beings, vaccine immunity is temporary, personal belief in an alternative healthy lifestyle or personal health and diet can stop the disease. With a problem bordering along the lines of child abuse, parents believe that they are entitled to the right to make choices for their children’s health and mortality. Milligan (2015) brought up a strong point when she stated, “the rights of individuals are heavily prized in American culture” (p.1, para. 1). Everyone needs to do their part to stop the types of cancer that can be prevented. Human papillomavirus is the number one cause of oropharyngeal cancer and the risk factor is sharply reduced with a proper vaccination regimen. Maura Gillison, M.D., PhD., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center stated, “In an unvaccinated population, we would estimate that about a million young adults would have an oral HPV infection by one of these vaccine HPV types. If they had all been vaccinated, we could have prevented almost 900,000 of those infections” (NCI Staff, 2017). Aren’t these numbers worth taking seriously? Whether you encourage your friend who is in denial about their child’s future, start an argumentative discussion on social media, or are part of the healthcare workforce; it is up to everyone to share the truth and encourage our legislature to pass a bill that will require this to be a mandatory vaccination requirement. After all, this is the future of America and it is our responsibility to enable them to grow old, especially when they may not have a say in the matter.

References[edit]

Cappelli, M., Gallone, M., Germinario, C., Martinelli, D., Prato, R., & Tafuri, S. (2014). Addressing the anti-vaccination movement and the role of HCWs. Vaccine, 32(38), 4860-4865.

Milligan, S. (2015). Anti-vaxxers need to grow up. U.S. News & World Report, Feb. 2015. (1).

NCI Staff. (2017). NIH National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017/hpv-vaccine-oral-infection

Silverman, R. & Wiley, L. (2017). Shaming vaccine refusal. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 45(4), 569-581.


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