HPV Vaccine: Adams vs. Allen

Human papilloma virus is today’s most common sexually transmitted infection and reamins uncurable at this time. About 79 million individuals in the United States are currently infected with HPV; around 14 million individuals will become newly infected with HPV each year. As of early 2012, one preventative measure against HPV is a vaccine given in three shots over six months, recommended for both male and female children at the age of 11 or 12. While the HPV vaccine is not mandated at this time, many individuals have openly expressed their opinions about the possibility. A man by the name of Mike Adams wrote an article for the NaturalNews website in February of 2007 titled “HPV Vaccine Texas Tyranny” explaining his apprehensions for the possible mandation of the HPV vaccine. Correspondingly, Arthur Allen wrote “The HPV Debate Needs an Injection of Reality” for the Washington Post in April of 2007 to convey his standpoint on the topic. While both Adams and Allen agree that the HPV vaccination lacks credibility, track record, and substantiation of long term safety, Adams argues that the HPV vaccine should never be mandated, while Allen believes the vaccine could be sucessfully mandated in the future if civic observations advance over time.

There is an ongoing debate concerning if this HPV vaccine should be mandated or remain optional, because it is still undetermined if the vaccine is even necessary. Adams believes the vaccine is not necessary due to alternative preventative measures such as “adequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D consumption, supplementation with probiotics, adequate intake of selenium, and zince, increased consumption of trace minerals and iodine, regular phrysical exercise and many other safe, natural, non-paten...

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...erve the long term effects of the HPV vaccination before a mandation could be issued.

In conclusion, while Adams and Allen have their agreements within aspects of the vaccine, they do not agree on a mandation decision. Adams does not see a benefit in a mandation because he approves alternative, non-patented treatments, and believes drug companies are more concerned with profit than public health and safety. Allen explains that he sees potential in the drug, but should only be mandated if it builds credibility and is developed more through long term effect observations.

Works Cited

Ackley, Katherine Anne, ed. Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across the Disciplines. 5th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.

Adams, Mike. “HPV Vaccine Texas Tyranny.” Ackley 445-47.

Allen, Arthur. “The HPV Debate Needs an Injection of Reality.” 448-50.