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Assessing Mandatory HPV Vaccination: Who Should Call the Shots?

  1. Gail Javitt1,
  2. Deena Berkowitz2,
  3. Lawrence O. Gostin3

Article first published online: 2 JUN 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2008.00282.x

Issue

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics

Volume 36, Issue 2, pages 384–395, Summer 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Javitt, G., Berkowitz, D. and Gostin, L. O. (2008), Assessing Mandatory HPV Vaccination: Who Should Call the Shots?. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 36: 384–395. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2008.00282.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    The Law and Policy Director at the Genetics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. She is also a Research Scientist in the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

  2. 2

    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.

  3. 3

    Associate Dean (Research and Academic Programs), a Linda D. and Timothy J. O'Neill Professor of Global Health Law, the Faculty Director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, and the Director of the Center for Law and the Public's Health at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 JUN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 2 JUN 2008

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In 2007, many legislatures considered, and two enacted, bills mandating HPV vaccination for young girls as a condition of school attendance. Such mandates raise signifcant legal, ethical, and social concerns. This paper argues that mandating HPV vaccination for minor females is premature since long-term safety and efectiveness of the vaccine has not been established, HPV does not pose imminent and signifcant risk of harm to others, a sex specifc mandate raises constitutional concerns, and a mandate will burden fnancially existing government health programs and private physicians. Absent careful consideration and public conversation, HPV mandates may undermine coverage rates for other vaccines.

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