PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Erik Malmqvist
AU  - Kari Natunen
AU  - Matti Lehtinen
AU  - Gert Helgesson
TI  - Just implementation of human papillomavirus vaccination
AID  - 10.1136/medethics-2011-100090
DP  - 2012 Apr 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 247--249
VI  - 38
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/4/247.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/38/4/247.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2012 Apr 01; 38
AB  - Many countries are now implementing human papillomavirus vaccination. There is disagreement about who should receive the vaccine. Some propose vaccinating both boys and girls in order to achieve the largest possible public health impact. Others regard this approach as too costly and claim that only girls should be vaccinated. We question the assumption that decisions about human papillomavirus vaccination policy should rely solely on estimates of overall benefits and costs. There are important social justice aspects that also need to be considered. Policy makers should consider how to best protect individuals who will remain unvaccinated through no fault of their own. This is especially important if these individuals are already disadvantaged in other ways and if vaccinating other people increases their risk of infection.