title: The moral justification for a compulsory human papillomavirus vaccination program.
abstract: Compulsory human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of young girls has been proposed as a public health intervention to reduce the threat of the disease. Such a program would entail a symbiotic relationship between scientific interests in reducing mortality and morbidity and philosophical interests in promoting morality. This proposal raises the issue of whether government should use its police powers to restrict liberty and parental autonomy for the purpose of preventing harm to young people. I reviewed the scientific literature that questions the value of a HPV vaccination. Applying a principle-based approach to moral reasoning, I concluded that compulsory HPV vaccinations can be justified on moral, scientific, and public health grounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, New York 14420, USA. jbalog@brockport.edu
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Balog
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000941:ethics; D009014:Morals; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines