Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new immunization recommendations for 11- and 12-year-old girls, including the human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine. Since the CDC approved the HPV shots last year, policymakers have debated whether to require the controversial vaccine for public school attendance.
While vaccination policies serve an important public-health purpose by ensuring that a high percentage of the population is protected against preventable diseases, school officials often complain that implementing them is a burden for their school systems. And some parents argue that the requirements infringe on their right to chose which vaccines their children receive.
What do you think? Should schools have primary responsibility for ensuring children are properly vaccinated? If so, which vaccinations should be required in order to attend school?
