One of the main HPV vaccines available also protects against viral subtypes associated with the development of some cases of genital warts [4] – thus decreasing the burden of disease

associated with this common condition. Maximum prevention efficacy against cervical cancer is achieved by targeting the vaccine at the pre-sexual exposure age group, and in most settings this will be the young adolescent years (usually ages 9–13) [5] and [6]. HPV vaccination is not a stand-alone effort in the prevention and control of HPV, however, and WHO recommends additional secondary and tertiary prevention interventions including regular cervical cancer screening for women in selected age groups

and access to treatment for women and men diagnosed with cancers [7]. Targeting vaccines against sexually transmitted ABT-737 price infections (STIs) at young age groups may offer an opportunity to “catalyze a life course approach” to promoting and protecting sexual health 7, but is also fraught with challenges. In the next section we explore some of the policy options for vaccine programmes, and consider how these may be modified Ku-0059436 order for this particular age group and for infections transmitted through sexual exposure. Public health interventions are, in general, based on principles of utilitarian goals [8] – i.e. actions designed to positively and maximally contribute to the well-being of everyone equally. Additionally, according to international human rights standards, everyone, without discrimination, has the right to the highest attainable standard of health [9], [10] and [11]. All Mephenoxalone people also have the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress [12], including in relation to needed vaccines. Vaccines are seen as a “public good” – in that they are non-rival and [ideally] non-excludable, there are positive externalities associated with consumption, and negative externalities associated with non-consumption

[13]. Vaccines of proven efficacy should therefore be available to everyone. Vaccination programmes are seen as a public health success story in the control of communicable infections. So successful that they are ranked at number 3 in the global “best buys” in development [14]. In general, vaccine programmes enjoy a large degree of public and policy support. Ideally, decisions about whether and how to employ vaccines should be based on scientific evidence concerning parameters such as burden of preventable disease, vaccine efficacy and cost-effectiveness. In practice, however, vaccine policies are subject to the routine ‘politics’ of decision-making which are driven by the classical triad of policy-making, namely the ongoing interaction among ideas, interests and institutions [15] – which can at times be conflictual.