Indiana Family Institute

Policy Issue Brief

Issue: HPV Immunization for School Age Girls

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted disease ( STD ) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted. Most people who become infected with HPV will have no symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected persons are unaware they are infected, yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner.

According to a family physician on the Indiana Family Institute Board of Directors, HPV causes 99% of most cervical cancers. A vaccine is available which covers two sub-types of HPV (types 16 &18), which cause 70% of cancers. The vaccine does not cover 30% of cancers, thus is not totally effective. It also covers up to 90% of some types of genital warts, but does not cover any other types of sexually transmitted diseases other than that associated with HPV. The vaccine must be given before a woman becomes sexually active (it can’t override an infection that is already there to prevent cancer). The bottom line is that this vaccine reduces the chances that a woman will get cervical cancer but cannot claim to totally prevent it. Only abstinence will prevent HPV.

Another problem with the vaccine is it is unknown how long the coverage lasts and could give a false perception of lifetime coverage. Still, many states are passing mandatory vaccination policies as per the precedent of mandatory Hepatitis B vaccinations (can cause liver cancer).

IFI Position: Oppose the bill's original language, unless the following informed consent language is mandatory for all patients to receive in written form before the vaccine is administered:

(a) the vaccine reduces the chances of cervical cancer, but does not completely prevent it, as it is only 70% effective in preventing cervical cancer,

(b) it is not known how long the vaccine remains effective in the body, and

(c) abstinence is the only way to prevent HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.