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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2007.131656v1 99/4/616    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Balog, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Balog, J. E. Related Collections Community Health Ethics Health Policy Adolescent Health Immunization/Vaccines Prevention

Joseph E. Balog, PhD, MSHYG

Joseph E. Balog is with the Department of Health Science, College at Brockport, State University of New York.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Joseph E. Balog, Department of Health Science, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, 350 New Campus Dr, 19 Hartwell Hall, Brockport, New York 14420 (e-mail: jbalog{at}brockport.edu).

Compulsory human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of young girls has been proposed as a public health intervention to reduce the threat of the disease. Such a program would entail a symbiotic relationship between scientific interests in reducing mortality and morbidity and philosophical interests in promoting morality. This proposal raises the issue of whether government should use its police powers to restrict liberty and parental autonomy for the purpose of preventing harm to young people. I reviewed the scientific literature that questions the value of a HPV vaccination. Applying a principle-based approach to moral reasoning, I concluded that compulsory HPV vaccinations can be justified on moral, scientific, and public health grounds.