D.C. schools to require HPV vaccination?

[resqgeek]

The D.C. city council has introduced a bill that would require all female students enrolling in sixth grade to be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. Now, I'm a believer in immunization, and preventing cervical cancer is a good thing, but is this really a necessary requirement for school enrollment? The purpose of mandatory vaccinations for school children (as I understand it) is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases through the school age population. Thus, for readily contagious diseases such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, and the like, requiring vaccinations makes good sense. However, HPV is not readily contagious through casual contact in the school environment. This virus is sexually transmitted, and is not going to cause any epidemics in our schools. While I would encourage parents to have their daughters vaccinated so as to reduce their risks for future health problems, I have a great deal of trouble understanding why this vaccination should be included on the list of those required for school enrollment.

[via The Washington Post]

For an even stronger critique of the proposed legislation, read Courtland Milloy's column from today's Washington Post.

Comments

[florafloraflora.livejournal.com]

Ugh. This sounds like overzealous public health officers got too fired up about the national debate and imposed this policy just because they could, in the only way they could.

[texaswren.livejournal.com]

Why is your city council messing with school policy? Don't you have school boards for this sort of thing?

[resqgeek]

That's an entirely different can of worms. The DC public schools are in such bad shape that the newly elected mayor wants the city council to assume oversight of the schools.

By the way, its not *my* city council, as I live across the river in Virginia, which has its own set of charming politics. :o)