Affiliations: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell
Medical College, New York, NY, USA | Morristown Memorial Hospital, Women's Cancer Center,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morristown, NJ, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Brian M. Slomovitz, M.D., Women's Cancer Center,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morristown Memorial Hospital, 100
Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted
infection in the United States. In June 2006, the US Food and Drug
Administration approved Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18
recombinant vaccine. Indicated for young girls and women aged 9 to 26, Gardasil
is the first vaccine approved to prevent transmission of HPV types 16 and 18.
In order to move toward universal acceptance of the HPV vaccine by the general
population, both mandated HPV vaccination and HPV vaccination-specific issues
must be addressed. Identifying and understanding factors associated with the
acceptance of the HPV vaccine has been and will continue to be important so
physicians can assist parents and adolescents in their decision to refuse or
accept the vaccine. Despite the potential social and cultural barriers to a
universal HPV vaccination program, numerous studies have indicated a
willingness among many women to accept the vaccine for their daughters. It is
clear that education will play an important role in the implementation of such
a vaccination program.
Keywords: Acceptance, HPV, human papillomavirus vaccine, barriers, sexually transmitted disease