Human papillomavirus vaccination requirements in US Schools: Recommendations for moving forward

A.L. North and L.M. Niccolai

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 10, 1765-1770

Abstract: Safe and effective human papillomavirus (HPV)vaccineshavebeen available and recommended for adolescents for a decade in the United States, yet vaccination rates remain suboptimal. School entry requirements have increased uptake of other vaccines for adolescents and made coverage more equitable. However, only 3 jurisdictions require HPV vaccine for school. We summarize the current status of HPV vaccine requirements and discuss the rationales for and against these policies. The rationales for requirements include HPV vaccine efficacy and safety, effectiveness of requirements for increasing vaccine uptake and making it more equitable, and use of requirements as "safety nets" and to achieveherd immunity. The rationales against requirements include low parental acceptance of HPV vaccine, the financial burden on educational systems and health departments, and the possibility for alternatives to increase vaccine uptake. Many challenges to HPV vaccine requirements are addressable, and we conclude with recommendations on how to approach these challenges.

Keywords: Wart virus vaccine, adolescent; child; economics; education; female; human; immunization; male; Papillomavirus Infections; parent; postmarketing surveillance; preventive health service; procedures; safety; school; United States, Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Immunization Programs; Immunization Schedule; Male; Papillomavirus Infections; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Parents; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Safety; Schools; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303286_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303286

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