Despite the controversies about HPV vaccination, the positives overlook the negatives and there should be a vaccination requirement before entry of middle school. Vaccines have successfully prevented the occurrence of many infectious diseases in the past and the HPV vaccines are no different.
The vaccination requirement should be for children entering middle school because it is early enough before children become sexual active. HPV can be easily spread, including with one sex partner, and should be given before any sexual activity. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a quarter of girls ages 15 to 17 are sexually active, which is often the age when teens are in high school. Thus, the time when children are entering middle school is the ideal time for them to be vaccinated because they are more likely to have not yet been exposed to sexual activity. In addition, vaccinated individuals who are young adolescents tend to have higher antibody levels than older people do. It is imperative for younger people to be immunized with the vaccine because it can only prevent the infection and does not cure HPV. Requiring immunization prior entering school increases the use of vaccine and reduces the risk of obtaining diseases.
The vaccination requirement should be for children entering middle school because it is early enough before children become sexual active. HPV can be easily spread, including with one sex partner, and should be given before any sexual activity. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a quarter of girls ages 15 to 17 are sexually active, which is often the age when teens are in high school. Thus, the time when children are entering middle school is the ideal time for them to be vaccinated because they are more likely to have not yet been exposed to sexual activity. In addition, vaccinated individuals who are young adolescents tend to have higher antibody levels than older people do. It is imperative for younger people to be immunized with the vaccine because it can only prevent the infection and does not cure HPV. Requiring immunization prior entering school increases the use of vaccine and reduces the risk of obtaining diseases.