Strong community support for HPV vaccine

HPV :: Strong community support for HPV vaccine

The study investigating the claim was published in the June issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

?The study was in response to the adverse media attention the vaccine received early in 2006, when it was first mentioned,? said lead author Dr Helen Marshall, from School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine, Women?s and Children?s Hospital Adelaide.

?Several newspaper articles reported concerns from parents that giving an adolescent a vaccine that protects from sexually transmitted diseases might encourage promiscuity. I wanted to look at this issue scientifically and see if this was indeed the case among parents and the wider community.?

The study, part of a broader survey by the South Australian Department of Health, found that only 5% of respondents were concerned that the use of the vaccine may lead to promiscuity.

On the other hand, two-thirds of the parents were concerned with the possible health side effects of the vaccine.

Despite some concerns, overall the study found strong support for the vaccine. In fact, 83% of respondents said the vaccine should be administered not only to women, but to men as well, to protect women from cervical cancer.

About 75% of interviewees said they wanted their children to be vaccinated, and 63% wanted to be vaccinated themselves, for their own protection.

?Our study shows that it?s important to identify concerns that parents and adults may have with the introduction of a new vaccine,? Dr Marshall said.

?It?s also important for all immunisation providers, including GPs, to be aware of the need to educate the public, but also to know that there?s strong public support for the vaccine.?