Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign

Health Advocacy Campaign Student's Name Institutional Affiliation Health Advocacy Campaign Among the common sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S is human papillomavirus (HPV) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014c). Preventive vaccines for this virus have been developed but exposure to its strands is a possibility among the U.S residents. Despite all the efforts of increasing awareness of the disease in the country, lack of education and administration has proved to be the major factors that are hindering creation of awareness among the citizens of U.S.A. This paper will discuss the possible policy that will help in the administration HPV preventive vaccine in the country. Population HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that has infected almost 25 million people in the U.S (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014c). The disease can lead to cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer in women and mouth, throat, and anal cancer in both genders (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014c). Survey has revealed that almost 12,000 women in the United States get diagnosed with cervical cancer that is a progress of HPV and third of the infected population is presumed to die making it a critical health issue that demands for an immediate attention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014c). A preventive vaccine that covered strands of 6, 11, 16, and 18 which is the cause of 75% and 90% of cervical cancer and genital warts respectively was introduced in the United States (Merck Vaccines, 2014). The administration of the vaccine was approved in both genders of ages between 9-13 years olds (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014c). Awareness and education should be given a priority while administering the vaccine. HPV Advocacy Campaigns Lack of education and access to the necessary resources for the administration of HPV vaccines seem to be the major factors that are hindering the success of the campaigns. The advocacy campaigns are supporting the education and awareness in increasing the administration of the vaccines. Patient-centered and individualized care campaigns are effective in educating and creating awareness (Ladner et al., 2012). The Gardasil Access Program (GAP) The program provided free school based administration of Human Papillomavirus vaccinations to the low-income counties in the country (Ladner et al., 2012). Female students of the ages 9-13 were given packets that highlighted the importance of being vaccinated as they went to their homes to get consent from their guardians to be vaccinated during school hours (Ladner et al., 2012). The consented children were the only ones who were vaccinated. Higher completion of HPV vaccination was witnessed in school-based programs as compared to heath facility based campaigns (Ladner, et al., 2012). The program depends on the location and the school was considered as the ideal location since it does not disrupt any routine in the students' schedule and takes them away from the class for few minutes. Also, the parents do not have to take off from the schedules to keep an appointment with the doctors and the students do not miss any signific...