A first-person perspective on the potential impact of HPV vaccination

We've linked to a number of newspaper editorials on HPV vaccines over the past few months, nearly all in support of their broad availability. While those pieces were almost exclusively written in the traditional editorial page third person, this excellent op-ed in the Chicago Tribune earlier this month offers a powerful first-person look at the potential benefits of HPV vaccination.

Written by Alice Dreger, an Associate Professor of Medical Humanities and Bioethics at Northwestern University, the essay is titled "A shot that could save thousands of lives in the U.S." Despite the generic headline handed down by editors at the Tribune, Dreger's piece recounts her own experiences being infected with HPV strains known to cause cervical cancer and the impact of this on herself and her relationships, particularly with her husband. From this perspective, she offers a unique take on the ongoing discussions regarding which groups to vaccinate and potential opposition to its use in teenage girls.

Published earlier this month, the essay led to several letters to the editor that were printed Saturday, applauding Dreger for sharing her story and offering similar first-person experiences of HPV infection and its consequences.