Policy Issue on the Introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Essay Instructions:

Analyze a piece of health legislation, a regulation, or a policy issue with significance to nursing. You may identify an issue from media reports, the professional literature, or from personal interest. Include how historical, personal values, social, financial, and other influences have shaped the policy. Though the one you develop will not be as detailed, one of the course texts, Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee (2007) has information about the content of each of the policy issue analysis section headings below as well as a very detailed example of a policy issue analysis on pages 83 -91.
Write a 4-5 page policy issue analysis using the following guidelines and evaluation criteria. Use a minimum of seven references from the professional nursing literature in the assigned course readings and other references in the Walden Library. If they are relevant, you may use one or two professional web sites in addition to the literature references.
Since this is a policy issue analysis, there is no introductory paragraph in this assignment. Use the title of your policy issue analysis for the main heading on the cover page and the first page of the analysis. Use the following headings for the rest of the analysis.
Problem identification (1 paragraph)
Background (1-2 paragraphs)
Stakeholders (1 paragraph)
Issue statement (1 sentence or question)
Policy objectives (1 introductory sentence and 1 objective)
Policy alternatives (1 paragraph)
Evaluation criteria (1 introductory sentence and 1 criterion for evaluation)
Summary and recommended policy (1 paragraph)
REFERENCES LIST:
Course Text: Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care
◦Chapter 40, "Research as a Political and Policy Tool"
The use of research in creating health care policy and swaying political views is discussed in this chapter.
◦Chapter 77, "Taking Action: Nurse, Educator, and Legislator: My Journey to the Delaware General Assembly"
The first registered nurse elected into the Delaware General Assembly discusses her life as a volunteer and nurse-legislator, and describes the policy issues she has supported as a nurse-legislator.
◦Chapter 81, "Interest Groups in Health Care Policy and Politics"
Chapter 81 traces the history and development of interest groups. It then discusses how interest groups function within the political system, and describes the contemporary terrain of health care interest groups.
◦Chapter 91, "Where Policy Hits the Pavement: Contemporary Issues in Communities"
Chapter 91 examines the impact that public policy has in communities. It identifies different actions for improving community health and the determinants of healthy communities.
◦Chapter 98, "Taking Action: The Nightingales Take on Big Tobacco"
This chapter recounts the struggle of the Nightingales's first attempt to push the negative effects of smoking and discusses actions nurses can take in the fight against the tobacco epidemic.
Articles:
Abiola, S. E., Colgrove, J., and Mello, M. M. (2013). The politics of HPV vaccination policy formation in the United States. Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 38(4). 645-81.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Brown, Lawrence D. and Gusmano, M. K. (2013). Introduction: Evaluation in analytic theory and political practice. Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 38(6), 1071-9.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Faiman, J. and D'Antonio, P. (2013). History counts: How history can shape our understanding of health policy. Nursing Outlook, 61(5), 346-352.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Primomo, J. and Bjoling, E. (2013). Changes in political astuteness following nurse legislative day. Policy, Politics,& Nursing Practice,14(2), 97-108.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Select and read one of the following articles: -Eaton, M. K. (2012). Professional advocacy linking Virginia's story to public policy-making theory, learning from the past and applying it to our future. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice,13(2), 105-112.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Sarna, L., Bialous, S. A., Chan, S., Hollen, P., and O'Connell, K. A. (2013). Making a difference: Nursing scholarship and leadership in tobacco control. Nursing Outlook, 61(1), 31-42.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Web Sites
-AACN (2009). AACN's Healthy Work Environments Initiative. Retrieved February 13, 2009 from http://www(dot)aacn(dot)org/WD/HWE/Content/hwehome.pcms?menu=Community
This Web site discusses the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' advocacy initiative. It also provides resources for planning and incorporating health work environment standards.
-ANA (2009). American Nurses Association Political Action Committee. Retrieved April 30, 2009 from http://www(dot)nursingworld(dot)org/MainMenuCategories/ANAPoliticalPower/ANAPAC.aspx
This Web site describes the purpose and goals of the American Nurses Association Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC). It also provides information on how to support the committee and who serves on the board of trustees.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Policy Issue Analysis
Name
Institution
Problem Identification
The introduction of HPV vaccine was mired by controversy when lawmakers from Michigan formulated a legislation proposing compulsory vaccination for girls between the ages of 11 to 12 years (Fowler & Gollust, 2012). Political dimensions of the policy formulation process affected the process. Political interests were mainly highlighted by the media, accusing the Texas governor and Merck and Company for colluding in passing the legislation for their own personal interesting. For two years, efforts were made to promote the use of HPV vaccine by policy makers. Eventually forty states adopted the legislation. Politics played the key role in the formation of this legislation as the policy formulation process saw varied opinions from interest groups, partisan ideologies, public preference shaping the policy specifications and its outcome (Abiola, Colgrove &Mello, 2013).
Background
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), in June 2006. This vaccine was manufactured by Merck and company Incorporation, and was licensed to produce the vaccine called Gardsail for prevention of cancer and genital watts. The advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) composed mainly from the Center Of Disease Control and Prevention, provided recommendations to conduct vaccination as routine, targeting girls between 11 to 12 years. The recommendations were approved by legislatures in Michigan. Within a short period, 41 states including District of Columbia formulated and passed the legislation mandating HPV vaccination for young girls. The implementation of this policy caused uproar and became a public debate .The governor was accused of colluding with the company because of his political and financial relations. Media reports further questioned the role of Merck Company in policy formulation. This was because the company lobbied directly to the legislatures by holding meetings and using other groups like Women in Government (WIG), which is the national group of legislature that contributed to the passing of this legislation. It was viewed that Merck had prepared a conducive political atmosphere for the introduction of the legislation. Public health practitioners viewed it as a positive initiative because it provided information to the public. However, some legislatures thought that Merck’s agenda was to create demand to benefit the company in the long-run. The benefits of the vaccine did not need legislation because the vaccine benefit was enough to convince people to embrace it (Faiman & D'Antonio, 2013).
Stakeholders
The main stakeholders in this case were Merck Company who promoted the vaccine and acted as the source of information that led to the drafting and enactment of the legislation. The other stakeholders are the public and the legislators. The legislators had divided opinion with the ones advocating for the introduction of the vaccine depending mostly on the information generated by Merck Company. Most of the legislatures were convinced by the scientific explanation that made them agree to pass the legislation. Some of the legislators opposed the same law that had been passed earlier, citing po...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Policy Issue on the Introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

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