Legislation has been introduced in Missouri and many other states seeking to mandate vaccination of girls at the sixth grade level for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The Human Papilloma Virus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted. Approximately 10 of the 30 identified HPV types can lead to development of cervical cancer.

In June 2006 the Federal Food and Drug Administration licensed the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by certain types of HPV. In July 2006 the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) issued a statement that it considers HPV vaccination to be a morally acceptable method of protecting against this disease, but asks that civil authorities leave this decision to parents and not make such immunization mandatory.

The NCBC notes that the prevalence of HPV in the reproductive age population makes exposure to the virus possible, even in a monogamous marriage, due to the possibility of a spouse’s exposure prior to marriage. Furthermore, we live in a society where non-consensual sex remains a threat to young women who deserve to be protected from the effects of exposure to HPV.

While receiving the HPV vaccine is moral and does meet a widespread health concern, controversy has arisen over whether the vaccination against HPV should be made mandatory for young girls in order to attend school. In February 2006 the governor of Texas issued an executive order requiring girls entering sixth grade as of September 2008 to receive the vaccine. Legislation pending in Florida and Illinois would also require 11- and 12-year-old girls to be vaccinated against HPV.

In response to public policy efforts in their states, the Catholic bishops of Texas, Florida and Illinois have issued statements that the HPV vaccination is a morally acceptable method of protecting against forms of cervical cancer and view the development of the vaccine positively. The bishops also state that the HPV vaccine should be made available to all young women regardless of their ability to pay for it.

The primary concern expressed by the NCBC and the Catholic bishops in these three states is whether the vaccine should be made mandatory for admission to school. Parents should be allowed to “opt-in” to the HPV vaccine, while legislation in Illinois and Florida allows parents to “opt-out” of vaccines.

The bishops of Texas expressed concern over the mandatory vaccination for 12-year-old girls. The bishops pointed out that the “American Academy of Pediatrics has judged that school-based mandatory HPV vaccination is premature and should await several years of practice before mandates are considered. The HPV vaccine is a new vaccine that has only been tested among girls 16 and older.” The Texas bishops letter also noted that while results from those tests have been encouraging the general public has very little knowledge of any possible negative side effects.

The bishops conclude that whether a young girl is vaccinated should be her parent’s decision and not the state’s decision as HPV is not a virus which is spread through casual contact.