HPV vaccine is a new and valuable tool in the effort to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer caused by HPV, typically transmitted through sexual activity. But because it is necessary to administer the vaccine before the onset of sexual activity, many parents have protested that the vaccine is either unnecessary or, worse, an encouragement to premarital intercourse. Neither is true, but school districts are bowing to these complaints, and avoiding measures that would increase uptake. This is particularly regrettable for girls coming from low-income families, as they are likely to have poor insurance coverage in the future and therefore will likely have less frequent pap smears to pick up the cancers that could have been avoided with the vaccine.
