Moral Justification for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programs for Young Girls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 6.2 million new cases of the human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are reported every year and 20 million people in the United States already had HPV in 2005. Recently, scientists have developed a vaccine, Gardasil, to prevent cervical cancer, providing protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.

The CDC states that this vaccine is safe and effective and recommends use of this vaccine in females, ages 11-12 years. However, some individuals and groups oppose the acceptance and use of this vaccine, especially for young girls based on moral grounds. Arguments against the use of this vaccine for young girls parallel arguments against school-based condom availability programs, including ideas that it will increase sexually activity and contribute to a decline in family-centered sexual morality.

This presentation offers ethical arguments based on the principles of autonomy, justice, beneficene and nonmaleficence that morally justify the implementation of vaccinating young girls for HPV. It is argued that the respect for the autonomy and health of young girls outweighs: (1) the ethical argument for parental autonomy; (2) the idea that HPV vaccinations interferes with parents' ability to educate and instill their values in children; and (3) the belief that HPV vaccinations will lead to increased sexual activity in young girls.