HPV Vaccination Policy: A Case Study of the Virginia School Mandate

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women, making its prevention a considerable public health concern. Although states have introduced legislation for school-age diseases like measles in the past, legislation requiring the HPV vaccine for school entry has faced opposition. In spite of this opposition, Virginia passed legislation requiring the HPV vaccine for girls entering 6^th grade. The goal of this research is to two-fold: first, to investigate if this policy has been effective in increasing the vaccination coverage rate, and secondly, to determine the efficiency of this policy in terms of cost effectiveness. Analysis of this policy uses standard linear regression analysis in addition to novel mathematical modeling. An overview of the techniques used as well as findings will be presented.