Goals and objectives- Empowerment through information and equal access

As stated by the Canadian Women’s Health Network, “At this point there are more questions than answers surrounding girls, women, cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine.” I would therefore logically conclude that more answers are needed before the Canadian government proceeds with their current bombardment of one sided issues on the female public. Improvement and careful consideration of effects should be at the primary goal of policy makers who are evaluating the current government policy on the HPV vaccine. In order to improve the policy specific goals and objectives must be predetermined.

With the new plethora of resources including preventative measures and vaccinations, girls now have access to more choices concerning their sexual health than ever before. It is the responsibility of this policy to ensure that all girls including marginalized populations are made fully aware of these choices. In addition, zero pressure should be exerted by the government, within schools, and by health care professionals to try to convince girls to get the vaccine. A primary goal of the HPV vaccine policy and subsequently the new choices made available by information surrounding HPV and the vaccination should be to leave girls feeling empowered by information. Such information can therefore lead girls to make educated choices.

In addition, a primary goal of the HPV policy is to increase boys and mens' current access to the HPV vaccine, offering males the same programs as females. As there are no biologically known reasons why a vaccine can not be implemented for men and boys to protect themselves and others against HPV, a goal of the new policy should be equal access. This objective is supported by many health care professionals as well as the creator of the HPV vaccine Dr. Harald zur Hausen, (who is not financially connected with the vaccine’s makers). In refusing to test the vaccine on boys and men, sexual health was treated as a women’s only issue. In 2008 this is a ridiculous implication which must be rectified immediately when new goals and objectives are created for policy reform.