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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Angus J. Dawson, Centre for Professional Ethics, Keele University, Keele Hall, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom, +44 1782 584082, a.j.dawson@keele.ac.uk and Maria Paola Dey, Public Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE, United Kingdom.

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus and it is suggested that the two subtypes (or strains) of HPV (HPV 16 and 18) may cause perhaps 70% of cervical cancers. A preventive vaccine could provide significant protection from this harm. Recent trials have provided promising results, and it is expected that a vaccine will be licensed within a year. However, a routine HPV vaccination programme will raise many ethical issues. First, the vaccination programme will almost certainly target children aged 10-12 as this is the optimum age to prevent future infection. However, this will raise the problem that at least some parents are likely to object to their child being vaccinated for a sexually transmitted disease. How are the issues about consent to be resolved in this case? Second, should both boys and girls be vaccinated? Some early cost-effectiveness studies have suggested that HPV should be targeted only at girls. Whilst, both sexes can carry the virus, it is women that carry the main burden of disease. However, there is evidence that boys could benefit from at least some HPV vaccines, as these vaccines also protect against the HPV subtypes that cause genital warts. What role should cost-effectiveness studies play in deliberations about policy? This paper will review and evaluate the ethical issues relating to possible HPV vaccination programmes as a contribution to policy formation in this area.

Learning Objectives: After attending this presentation the participants will be able to

• Identify the main ethical issues likely to arise during policy formation in relation to routine HPV vaccination
• Discuss the relevant ethical issues in an informed manner
• Develop the ability to critically discuss other proposed routine vaccination programmes

Keywords: Immunizations, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No