Should HPV Vaccines Be Mandatory?

In a recent Health Politics piece, I reviewed the facts on the new vaccine for the HPV virus. Following that airing, the governor of Texas moved to make the three-shot vaccination mandatory for adolescent girls in the state. A large public debate ensued, which drew in legislators, school officials, public health professionals and parents — […]

A New Approach to the Obesity Problem

Depending on our own particular situations, it’s likely that we all perceive the obesity epidemic differently. It may be one of the top issues on your mind, or, on the other hand, you might see it as “not your problem.” But if you watch this week’s Health Politics program, you’ll soon understand that obesity is […]

HPV Vaccine and the Recent JAMA Study: Knowing the Numbers

The recent study on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) prevalence in U.S. women (published in the Feb. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association) added fuel to the fire in the debate over whether states should mandate the vaccine for middle-school-aged girls. The numbers were dramatic — the overall HPV prevalence among U.S. […]