NY Mulling Mandatory HPV Vaccine For School Children [POLL]

The state Senate Health Committee is considering a bill that would require the immunization of all children born after Jan. 1, 2009, with the human papillomavirus vaccine. A similar bill is in committee in the Assembly.

The bills would add HPV to the list of immunizations required for children going to public schools in the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two doses for the HPV vaccine are recommended for all boys and girls at ages 11 to 12, but the vaccine can be administered as early as age 9. Medical experts said the older the child, the more doses may be needed. The CDC said the vaccine is safe, and protects they child long before they are ever exposed to cancer-causing infections.

Human papillomavirus, the CDC said, is a common virus that can lead to six types of cancers later in life. Nearly 80 million Americans are currently infected with some type of HPV. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, the CDC said. One can get HPV by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, who is sponsoring the Assembly version of the bill, said it's a no-brainer.

"Why not give our young people the opportunity to guard against, protect themselves against, anal and cervical cancer," she said, CBS New York reported.

Senate-sponsor Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, said requiring the HPV vaccine for school children is not without precedence. Virginia, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia currently require the vaccination and Hawaii will join them next summer. There is also legislation pending in at least seven other states.

As with the recent legislation to eliminate religious exemptions to the measles vaccine requirement, making the HPV vaccine a must is not without controversy.

A report in January by the South Nassau Communities Hospital found that 37 percent of parents said they do not plan or are not sure if they will vaccinate their children against HPV.

While medical professionals said the stigma around HPV and sexual activity shouldn't outweigh the benefits of decreasing a child's risk of certain cancers, some parents see it as governmental overreach.

Jessica Rudin of East Setauket told Newsday that people should have a choice about vaccinating their children.

She argued that it's not a huge issue and people aren't dying from HPV all the time, and "I don't see why it should be mandatory."

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.