BMJ  2008;336:1146 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39583.716991.3A

Letters

Human papillomavirus vaccine

Effect of ethnic group should be clarified

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

One of the most striking findings in the study of Brabin et al on the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by schoolgirls was the apparent effect of ethnic group on compliance with vaccination.¹ The accompanying editorial also highlighted the possible effect of religion on uptake, two schools having declined to participate in the study on religious grounds.² It would have been interesting to know their religious affiliation.

The apparent effect of ethnic group on vaccine uptake is not clear cut. One can only infer from the article that schoolgirls from "ethnic minority groups" have a lower vaccine uptake.

The effects of ethnic group and possibly religion on vaccine uptake are potentially important findings. They suggest that the successful implementation of the national HPV vaccine programme may vary across the United Kingdom according to local variation in demography. That the authors did not provide a more detailed exposition of their . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Infection and Immunology Unit, St Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH

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