Society for Adolescent Medicine position on HPV and other teen vaccines

This is a few weeks old, but the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health included this position paper on adolescent immunization from the Society for Adolescent Medicine. (free PDF).

The paper addresses several vaccines administered to teenagers and outlines some of the general challenges that adolescent immunization programs face. HPV vaccines receive significant attention, with respect to the science, cost-effectiveness, and behavioral concerns the vaccine raises among many. On the latter, here's what they write...

"Data indicate that parents will support the use of a vaccine to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HPV, especially after receiving education and an understanding of the potential outcomes of the disease. In addition, provider acceptability is important to parents and their adolescent children. Thus, health care professionals need to educate themselves, parents and patients with the goal of promoting the health and well-being of patients regardless of the transmission routes of infection and disease. Vaccination does not preclude the use of other methods to prevent disease, including significant educational initiatives. Even with significant educational efforts aimed at behavioral change, adolescents still engage in health-risk behaviors. Just as with any other health prevention strategy, it makes the most sense to protect all youth--including our most vulnerable youth--with all prevention strategies available, including education and vaccination."