Course:LIBR559A/Haas2009

Citation

Haas, M., Ashton, T., Blum, K., Christiansen, T., Conis, E., Crivelli, L., ... & Schlette, S. (2009). Drugs, sex, money and power: an HPV vaccine case study. Health Policy, 92(2), 288-295.

Purpose of article

Health programs are not neutral since they are sometimes used to push political agendas

Main Argument(s) and supporting evidence

In their article about the approval and implementation of the cervical-cancer preventing vaccine, Haas et al. argue that political power pushed the vaccine into early acceptance before it’s long term effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety were certain (288). At the time of it’s introduction to the public – specifically the female portion of the public – there were “more questions than answer” (288) about Gardasil, the HPV vaccine. Haas et al. draw attention to the politics which left these questions unanswered in order to push other agendas.

The provision of HPV vaccines wasn’t cheap – in fact, it is “the most expensive vaccination program ever introduced in Canada” (289). So why was it being introduced into public health policy prematurely? Haas et al. argue that many factors influenced this. One of the key motivators behind the quick introduction of the vaccine was the manufacturers of the vaccine themselves. Interested in the profit associated, the manufacturers employed lobbyists, engaged the media and motivated supportive groups to continue pushing for its release (291). Marketing was heavy and targeted at teenage girls and their mothers, with messages that urged them to be “one less” victim of cervical cancer (291). Models and studies were conducted regarding the cost effectiveness of the vaccine, but those proved to be unreliable upon closer scrutiny (292). Although many interest groups, such as the Women’s Health Network in Canada, were concerned about the speed with which this vaccine was being pushed into the market, but they were not a sufficiently influential voice to impede the whirlwind which was created around this intervention.

Method(s) (e.g., case studies, interviews, thought piece, survey)

The methods used for this study included analyzing documents such as Network member case studies from the countries which adopted HPV vaccine guidelines exceptionally quickly as well as publications by public agencies, journals and newspapers.

Areas / Topics / Keywords

vaccine, human papillomavirus (HPV), politics, public health, policy

Theoretical frameworks followed by the author(s)

Although not referenced explicitly, this article had roots in the theory of the politics of technology as put forth by Winner.

Pitfalls, blind spots, and weaknesses of this article

Although not referenced explicitly, this article had roots in the theory of the politics of technology as put forth by Winner. My major criticism of this article is that it did not provide theoretical context or reference other similar cases – it only mentioned that similar cases exist with other medical interventions but did not reference which ones they might be (293). This prevented the study from joining a broader conversation about the politics behind introducing medical technologies and pushing them into public health policies and practices.

Potential Contribution to the scholarship of Social Studies of Library and Information and to the practice of Librarianship

Libraries can help educate citizens about the underlying political motivations behind some programs and health initiatives in order to help patrons make informed decisions for themselves.

Page Author: Caroline Mniszak