Compulsory HPV vaccination panel

Texas is the first state to pass a law requiring Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for school attendance while many other states have similar laws under consideration. The Texas law was passed by the executive powers of the Governor rather than usual means for adding vaccines to those required for school, such as a change in the legislation or through a state vaccine advisory board. These other means for adding new vaccines to those required for school attendance include public input whereas in Texas the Governor made this decision unilaterally. A recent editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine (Colgrove, NEJM, Dec. 7, 2006) highlights the importance of giving proper consideration to the ethics and politics of compulsory vaccination for HPV vaccination. This panel discussion will highlight a variety of perspectives regarding making HPV vaccine mandatory. Panelists will provide a background of HPV and the newly available vaccine; review the history, strengths and limitations of compulsory vaccination laws; review ethical issues related to compulsory vaccination for HPV; present the Association of Immunization Managers policy on compulsory vaccination and the application of this policy framework to HPV vaccine; and present the perspective of the Family Research Council. Participation from the audience will be highly encouraged.