Reference no: EM131310931

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates and licenses all vaccines. In large part, these vaccines protect the general public from communicable and infectious diseases, which in the past have caused pandemics. All 50 U.S. states have adhered to the FDA's regulations by requiring that children become vaccinated prior to attending public school. Typically, these vaccinations go unquestioned by parents as each safeguards their children from potentially fatal diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.

Over the past decade, however, the vaccination to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV) has come under much debate. The HPV virus is now the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States, impacting more than 79 million people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). It can cause cervical cancer in females, as well as throat cancer and genital warts in both females and males. With such alarming epidemiological evidence, 24 states have adhered to the FDA's recommendation to vaccinate children aged 11-12, before sexual activity generally occurs. However, because this regulates a personal and somewhat taboo topic (sexual activity), many parents, politicians, legislators, and religious groups have spoken out against such a mandate.

Do you support or oppose mandatory HPV vaccinations? In lieu of a vaccine, what other courses of action could be taken?

In this Assignment, you further investigate the public health issue of mandatory vaccinations by conducting a case study analysis on HPV.

To prepare for this case study analysis, reflect on last week's Discussion, which explored governmental involvement in public health policy. Then, examine the HPV case study presented in Chapter 8 of your course text. Last, examine the posting requirements below and conduct research to locate at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed articles from the Walden Library that further explore the public health issues, policies, and interventions associated with this case.

Submit a 2-page case study analysis that synthesizes the following:
• Title page and Table of Contents.
• Write a problem statement for the public health issue identified in the case study.
• In one paragraph, provide background to the public health issue identified in the case study.
• In one paragraph, overview current governmental policy associated with this public health issue.

• From the perspective of the law discipline, explain the following:
o Whether the government has the right to override parental rights in relation to this specific public health issue.
o Whether mandatory vaccinations are a plausible and needed requirement for young males and females OR if vaccinations should remain a recommendation and why.

In one paragraph, describe intervention(s) currently in place to address this public health issue.
In one paragraph, propose an alternative intervention to address this public health issue.
In one paragraph, conclude your analysis by summarizing key points and takeaways.
APA reference page.