HPVワクチンの臨床利用をめぐる倫理問題 : 予防接種義務化とワクチン政策に関する一考察

抄録

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, and efforts to develop vaccines against this virus have been proceeding. In June 2006, the U.S. FDA approved a vaccine that prevents HPV. There is now a political controversy over how to use this HPV vaccine in the clinical setting. Because of the high prevalence of cervical cancer in Japan, this vaccine has been eagerly awaited. This paper examines the experience in the U.S. and discusses how this vaccine might be used in Japan where it has not yet been approved and considers how the cost should be borne as well as the ethical problems involved in selecting individuals to receive preventive vaccination.