NPR's 'Morning Edition' Examines Parents' Concerns About HPV Vaccine

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Sep 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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NPR's "Morning Edition" on Thursday examined how uneasiness among some parents about having their adolescent girls receive the human papillomavirus vaccine, which is recommended for girls ages 11 to 12, is contributing to low vaccination rates.

NPR reports that the CDC age recommendations for the HPV vaccine were aimed at vaccinating girls before they become sexually active and have the chance to contract HPV. According to CDC, as of late 2007 about 20% of girls younger than age 18 had received the HPV vaccine, which can protect against cervical cancer. Experts say the low numbers largely can be attributed to parents who doubt that their child is sexually active, as well as a mistrust of vaccines and concerns about cost, with the required series running more than $400.

Jessica Kahn -- a pediatrician, research assistant and mother of an 11-year-old girl -- said that middle- to high-income parents typically are more suspicious of vaccines, which is why it is crucial that parents and pediatricians discuss the vaccine. "If parents don't believe the vaccine is safe, and believe the vaccine has serious side effects, that will weigh against their daughter being vaccinated," Kahn said. She added, "There has been quite a bit of coverage in the media related to adverse events caused by HPV vaccines. And in my practice, I've noticed that that has impacted parents' willingness to vaccinate daughters."

Neal Halsey, a pediatrician and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that 10 years ago, experts considered age 11 to be an appropriate age for children to receive booster shots for other vaccinations. However, Halsey said that that rate of HPV vaccination -- particularly among younger adolescent girls -- is less than the rate for other vaccines.

Halsey said he thinks parents eventually will accept the HPV vaccine, but he said there are consequences for delaying vaccination. "I do think there is a problem of waiting until you know your child is sexually active or you think they are, because then it may be too late." He added, "It is almost universal that children are sexually active -- sometimes frequently -- before the parents know they are sexually active. So I wouldn't encourage parents to wait until they are suspicious that their child may be sexually active."

The report contrasts the U.S. response with the United Kingdom, where a survey shows that up to 70% of parents support vaccination at the recommended age. The vaccine is offered at no cost through the the U.K.'s National Health Service (Wilson, "Morning Edition," NPR, 9/18).

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