Human Papillomavirus: Cervical Cancer, Genital Warts, Vaccine Options - Essay Sample

Introduction

Human papillomavirus is sexually transmitted in both men and females. Its main medical issue is that it has is causing cervical cancer and genital warts for those infected. Vaccination can help deal with the effects of the virus and transmission from an infected person to another. The vaccination is normally done to teens and pre-teens, especially by the age of 12-13 years. The vaccine has been available for many years. Still, various countries have had issues with the mass adoption of the vaccine for use in its children population due to various concerns (Meites et al., 2019). The age bracket to be covered in mass vaccination varies based on different countries, with some countries extending the age bracket to the age of 26 years for both males and females. Some countries do it for females within the same age bracket to prevent cervical cancer for those who are sexually active. The debate persists if the use of the human papillomavirus virus vaccine is still a good idea. Some feel it has a more negative impact on the individual than no vaccination at all. Others using scientific evince advocate for the use of the vaccine based on merits and the ultimate goal of preventing cervical cancer for women. Ethical issues are surrounding the mass vaccination of children with the vaccine. The benefits are more; thus, human papillomavirus vaccination should be a requirement for children.

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Benefits of the Vaccination

The use of human papillomavirus vaccination on children is a public health issue that needs to be objectively discussed. All need to understand why the vaccine is there in the first place. Even though it has a few disadvantages for children, the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages of using the vaccine on children. It is the role of every health sector head to educate the population on the importance of carrying out the vaccination on children as doing so will help in mass acceptance. A lot of literature materials have been published on human papillomavirus and the effect of the vaccination, thus creating more awareness and acceptance as more research gets conducted (Alexander et al., 2012). Mass acceptance of the vaccination on children has brought to light the wide-ranging debate, and it is important to consider the pros and cons of vaccinating children. There are ethical issues raised from some sections of the society in different countries regarding the mass vaccination on children. Despite the rolling out of the vaccination in most countries, many children have not been vaccinated due to the issues surrounding the mass vaccination of children. Public education has helped improve mass acceptance in most countries, which is positive (Meites et al., 2019).Doctors well record the importance of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination to Children. Parents must understand the benefits of having their children vaccinated (Meites et al., 2019). By understanding the importance, parents will be at the forefront, promoting the use of HPV vaccination.

Prevents Cancer

The sole purpose of HPV vaccination is to prevent certain types of cancers, such as cervical cancer and anal cancer. Human papillomavirus is sexually transmitted and has a risk of causing cancer on the individual. The scientific findings make it necessary to prevent future cancer cases through childhood vaccination. In the USA alone, over 30,000 cases of cancer can be attributed to the HPV Virus (Poljak, 2012). It shows that if the vaccine is not a requirement for all children, then we are looking at a future where more cases of cancer will be experienced. The cancers caused by this virus have a devastating effect on the family and the victim of the disease, causing a high morbidity rate. As children grow up, chances of unsafe sexual intercourse. It is the reason why it is important to vaccinate them against the virus for the sake of their healthy future. States such as Virginia and the District of Columbia in America require children to undergo the vaccination before joining the school. Other states do not make it mandatory though they encourage parents to have their children vaccinated conducted (Alexander et al., 2012). Vaccination of children under the mass vaccination program has the financial cost taken up by the government in most countries to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated. The vaccine has been proven to prevent cervical cancer for girls who engage in unprotected sex while still in school, thus guaranteeing them a healthy future free from cervical cancer conducted (Alexander et al., 2012). Cervical cancer affects the reproductive life of women and causes death at worse. Parents must take their children for human papillomavirus vaccination at a young age because their immune system is still building up, making the vaccine more effective in the body. The case of cancer infections in the world has dropped as a result of the continued use of the HPV vaccine on children (Etter et al., 2012).

Helps in the Prevention of Genital Warts

Certain types of HPV lead to genital warts. The vaccination helps in protecting the children from the types of Human Papillomavirus, causing genital warts. The vaccination must be done at a young age as the child is growing up and less exposed to the virus. Genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11, and thus the vaccination helps in preventing these types of viruses' activity in the body (Poljak, 2012). Both sexes are likely to suffer from genital warts. It is thus the importance of the vaccination for both boys and girls. However, even though more emphasis is given to cervical cancer prevention in most countries. It is the reason why, in most countries, the focus is only on girls in the mass vaccination campaigns. It is thus important to focus on both sexes in the mass vaccination campaigns for the virus (Poljak, 2012).

Studies surrounding the effectiveness and importance of vaccination for both sexes continue to be done. The existing studies have informed the federal government of the United States to promote mass vaccination for children. However, not all states require it as a mandatory exercise. Most countries around the world have created sensitization programs for the vaccination but have not made it mandatory despite the importance of the vaccination (Poljak, 2012). It is better to prevent disease early than attempt to treat it with minimal impact. Cancer is a deadly disease, especially in cases of late diagnosis.

It is Cost-Effective to vaccinate

The cost of treatment is higher than the cost of prevention. HPV vaccination of children is cheaper compared to the cost of treating cancer or genital warts caused by the lack of vaccination. Cancer is one of the most expensive diseases to treat, and in some cases, the treatment is not effective despite using a lot of resources. In developing countries, cervical cancer is a serious public health concern, and preventing it earlier is better for the healthcare system conducted (Alexander et al., 2012). It is thus critical to vaccinate children with the human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent future cervical cancer cases that are expensive to treat. In mass vaccination, the government usually ensures the vaccination is subsidized and free in some countries. The government takes over the cost. It then makes it possible for all children to have access to the vaccination, and thus it possible for all children to be vaccinated (Etter et al., 2012).

Opposition to Use of HPV

Side Effects

Those opposed to using HPV on children feel that the vaccine has its side effects on children and thus should not be a requirement. However, these effects are mild and thus should not be a reason to oppose the requirement of children to be vaccinated against HPV (Kornides et al., 2018). In the past, there has been little information about the HPV vaccine, which is mostly the reason why many are still opposed to having their children vaccinated. HPV vaccination, just like any vaccination, has side effects. These side effects include swelling of the injection site. Children's skin is soft, and thus when injected, it causes the skin to swell and might include some slight pain. Cases of joint pain and muscle pain have also been experienced with children who have been vaccinated (Perkins et al., 2015). The cases are bound to make children uncomfortable and make parents less reluctant to have their children vaccinated. There is limited information that is available to parents regarding the HPV virus makes it even more complicated as parents experience the fear of the unknown.

Some people have the concern of HPV vaccination having severe side effects in the future. No research has been done to prove whether the fear is unfounded or not, but parents still have limited access to information that may convince them otherwise (Kornides et al., 2018). Doctors argue that the vaccine has no potential to cause any harm to the children in the future as they age, but the information sensitization to parents is still low and thus does little to reduce the parent's fears (Simms et al., 2019).

Ethical Concerns

Parents argue that children who have been vaccinated against HPV virus tend to engage in risky sexual behaviors as they think Human Papillomavirus is the only virus that is sexually transmitted to fear. The vaccination is given on the assumption that the children engaged in teen sex, which in most cases is unprotected, thus increasing the cases of getting HPV infection (Marshall et al., 2019). It is a valid concern from the parent. However, it worthy t note that there are other sensitization measures taken by the health officials to ensure that the children are aware of other sexually transmitted diseases that won't be prevented by having the HPV vaccination (Etter et al., 2012). Continuous sensitization will be effective in ensuring that the children make the right sexual decisions and do not expose themselves to risk sexual activities. Human Papillomavirus vaccination should thus be required from children as it has more protective advantages than the fear expressed by parents. Sex education takes care of the ethical fears the parents have about their children. It is the parent's role to teach their children about sex and discourage them from engaging in careless sex (Kornides et al., 2018). It is not a role that can be left to the government or the healthcare workers only. Hence, the argument that HPV vaccination will increase early sex in children is unfounded. Even without vaccination, children still engage in sex if they lack proper guidance. The ethical concerns regarding the vaccination should not be a reason why the vaccination cannot be a requirement for all children (Kornides et al., 2018).

Promotion of HPV Vaccine

Research conducted recently proves that the vaccine is safe for children, and there is no reason for parents to be fearful. Vaccinating the children is helpful for their future. It will ensure they will be free from the human papillomavirus.Vaccination against the virus helps improve women's fertility by ensuring they won't get cervical cancer or other types of cancer caused by the virus (Marshall et al., 2019).It is thus necessary that children are vaccinated at a young age when the body can maximally utile the vaccination to deal with Human papillomavirus. Girls become women when they grow up (Simms et al., 2019).

Parents who are opposed to their children getting vaccinated suffer from a lack of enough information to help them make the right decision for their children. The health officials need to do more sensitization to make the parents understand the need for the vaccination and that it has no side effects. Lack of enough sensitization opens up the vaccination to mythical believes, creating fear among parents, thus reducing t...