California group raises concerns about HPV vaccine and AB 659 guidelines

A California group is expressing concerns about the HPV vaccine on social media. The group’s post states that despite the enactment of AB 659—a law recommending the HPV vaccine—the vaccine remains non-mandatory, and parents maintain the right to decide against vaccinating their children. The group advises parents to “protect” their children by opting out of vaccination.

Risk level: Low

Recommendation: While these social media posts are primarily circulating in vaccine-opponent circles, false claims about the HPV vaccine may promote vaccine hesitancy and distrust in guidance from government and public health officials. It is recommended that doctors in California be prepared to answer questions about  HPV vaccines, which have been shown to be safe and effective across multiple trials and studies.