HPV Vaccine Disparities.

A recent survey presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, found that although only 25% of young African American women are actually getting the HPV vaccine, both they and their guardians feel positively about it and are not particularly worried about safety. So why is it that so few are being vaccinated? According to the same study, only a small fraction of the guardians had any memory of their daughter's physician talking to them about the vaccine.

Some racial disparities in health care access stem from a lingering distrust of the health care system because of previous exploitation of racial minorities, such as was seen during the Tuskegee syphilis study. Other disparities occur because of inconsistencies in care across racial groups, something which may be more of an issue in this case. It is also possible that physicians could be mentioning the vaccine at the same low levels across racial groups, but that some groups could be more proactive about seeking out the vaccine as an early intervention. It's one thing to say "yes" to a vaccine that is being offered, and an entirely different thing to be wiling to ask a doctor for something that he hasn't brought up. That takes a comfort with the healthcare system and a willingness to question authority that is understandably difficult to develop in populations who are historically under-served... and who are often under-insured as well.

• How Does the HPV Vaccine Work?
• Is Gardasil Safe?
• The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
• Health Disparities: Glossary