Do you approve of spending $300 million on HPV vaccination?

Dr. Marc Steben, family physician at the INSPQ, believes the government’s investment in HPV vaccination is fully justified given that HPV represents an enormous burden for Canada, current methods for preventing HPV infections have serious limitations, and the HPV vaccine is safe and effective. On the other hand, Abby Lippman, Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at McGill University, Madeline Boscoe, Advocacy Coordinator for the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg, and Dr. Carol Scurfield, Medical Director of the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg call for a more cautious approach. They advise not rushing into such a program, noting that the funds to create the needed public health infrastructure have not yet been provided. They also explore the many relevant questions that remain unanswered.

To learn more about this debate:

Do you approve of spending $300 million on HPV vaccination?

YES, says Marc Steben

Do you approve of spending $300 million on HPV vaccination?

NO, says Abby Lippman, Madeline Boscoe and Carol Scurfield

Adapted by : Myriam Hivon, Ph.D.

REFERENCES

Steben M. (2008). Do you approve of spending $300 million on HPV vaccination? YES. Canadian Family Physician, 54 (2): 174-176.

Lippman A., Boscoe M., Scurfield C. (2008). Do you approve of spending $300 million on HPV vaccination? NO. Canadian Family Physician, 54 (2): 175-177.