Why public schools should require the vaccination against HPV

If you live in Rhode Island, and their children go to public school, to be vaccinated against HPV human papilloma virus, or. This is a new requirement and not everyone likes.  

Opponents say the change that can get HPV through sex, contrary to infections such as measles and whooping cough can take if someone in the classroom and coughs on you. Why, they say, they should require the vaccine against HPV for school?

Because it could save lives, that's why.

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer. It is also responsible for many other cancers and genital warts. The vaccine, which can be given from the age of 9 years, is highly effective against HPV strains that cause problems, assuming that young people receive three doses.

However, we are not so great when it comes to making young people vaccinated. Some relatives HPV associated with sex and feel that their children are too young, even when they are in high school (despite polls consistently show that half of high school students have had sexual intercourse). Some parents are concerned for the safety of the vaccine; despite years of testing and millions of doses, unfounded abound about it being dangerous rumors. Once the parents are afraid, it is difficult to not fear. Since the vaccine is not usually required for school, they skip altogether.

There is also the simple fact that older children do not go to the doctor as often as young children, which means there is less opportunity to get young immune.

But if they had to do in school, they would have to come get vaccinated. And parents just could not postpone or avoid.

Following the outbreak of measles at Disney World, there has been much discussion as to whether vaccines should be mandatory for school attendance. For most parents, this is a non-issue; Most parents give their children all recommended vaccines at the recommended times. But there is a minority that do not, because they do not trust or do not feel they are necessary.

Vaccination is a medical treatment, and at first glance, it seems strange to force parents to their children undergo medical treatment. But vaccination is different from most medical treatments because it affects the other. If your child is sick with preventable by vaccination, they can infect others.

It's not just about you and your child. Vaccination has never been. It is all around you, not only in school, but everywhere, for the rest of his life. This concerns not only high school students who may be exposed to HPV during sex with their non-vaccinated; This is about the prevention of cancer in the life of every child.

Rhode Island allows some exceptions, and clearly some exemptions are necessary. Some children can not get the vaccine for medical reasons. And we do not want to create a situation where families are really terrified of vaccines feel that they can send their children to public schools; Not only could this be an ordeal for families without the means to pay for private school, but you could end up with complete underimmunized children private schools, creating a perfect breeding ground for diseases and epidemics preventable vaccination that cause. But derogations must be very difficult to achieve. Many states allow objections "philosophical", no questions asked, and must be changed.Because if you put other people at risk, you should have a very good reason.

When vaccines are required for school, we have more children vaccinated. When we get more children vaccinated, we prevent diseases, including cancer. When we have a vaccine that works and is safe, we should ensure that you give as many people as possible, and need a vaccine for the school is there for.

When the necessary vaccines, including HPV at school, not only to our children an education, give them the best chance of a healthy future.
By: Claire McCarthy, MD