News media coverage of policies surrounding the HPV vaccine before and after Texas Governor Rick Perry's executive order, February 2006-February 2008

Objective. In June 2006, the first vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) was approved by the FDA and shortly after approval, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the HPV vaccine for young girls. As a result of ACIP recommendations, state legislators introduced bills to mandate the vaccine. Policies related to public health issues, such as vaccination mandates, are often influenced by news coverage of these issues. News media, particularly in times of controversies, reinforce specific messages and plays an essential role in framing issues for the public. The objective of this study is to examine the quality, content, and scope of policies for the HPV vaccine before and after Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order mandating the vaccine for middle school girls.^ Methods. The Lexis-Nexis database was used to identify 335 articles on HPV vaccination mandate policies that were published in U.S. newspapers from February 1, 2006 to February 2, 2008. The coding instrument captured information about article type, main news story concern, general information about HPV, HPV vaccine mandate policies, arguments for and against HPV vaccination mandates, arguments for and against the HPV vaccine, and sources of information.^ Results. Most news articles (82.4%) occurred after Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order mandating the HPV vaccine. Most articles mentioned that HPV is sexually transmitted (90.7%) and linked HPV infection to cervical cancer (96.1%). Only 63.9% of the articles reported that the HPV vaccine protects against types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and 18.8% of the articles reported that the vaccine protects against genital warts. Only 18.2% of the news articles presented a balanced argument regarding mandatory HPV vaccinations, and only 39.4% of the news articles presented a balanced argument for the HPV vaccine.^ Conclusions. Our study revealed that news coverage regarding mandating the HPV vaccine and issues related to the vaccine itself is biased, unbalanced, and incomplete. Since the public pays a great deal of attention to health in the media, it is essential that news stories are balanced, complete, and accurate. In order to ensure that future vaccination mandates are not covered in the same way the HPV vaccination was, public health officials, health care providers and scientists should work effectively with the media to ensure that balanced information is provided.^

The philanthropic work of Josephine Shaw Lowell: containing a biographical sketch of her life, together with a selection of her public papers and private letters

collected and arranged for publication by William Rhinelander Stewart.

Lowell--an industrial dream come true

by H. C. Meserve.

Letter from Edward Wigglesworth to John Lowell, 1781 January 3

Four leaves containing a four-and-a-half-page letter in the hand of Professor Edward Wigglesworth to John Lowell dated January 3, 1781. In the letter, Professor Wigglesworth describes the issues related to the deprecating value of paper money and the salaries of Harvard officers, and he provides recommendations for the General Court's grants to the College.

Letter from Samuel Williams to John Lowell, 1782 October 14

Two leaves containing a one-and-a-half page letter in the hand of Professor Samuel Williams to John Lowell briefly describing his current financial situation. The second leaf containing the address information is a fragment.

Copy of letters from Edward Wigglesworth and Samuel Williams to John Lowell, 1781-1782

Two leaves containing a two-page handwritten copy of the letter from Professor Edward Wigglesworth to John Lowell dated January 3, 1781 (HUM 86 Box 1, Folder 1), and a one-page handwritten copy of the letter from Professor Samuel William to John Lowell dated October [14], 1782 (HUM 86 Box 1, Folder 2).

Copy of letters from Ebenezer Storer to John Lowell, 1782 October 31

Two leaves containing two one-page handwritten copies of letters from Harvard College Treasurer Ebenezer Storer both dated October 31, 1782. The first letter outlines the salaries of several College officers and their funding sources. The second letter details the portion of the salaries received from the rents of the College and the assessments on students. The verso of the second leaf contains a note about the document written by one of John Lowell's sons.

Letter from John Lowell to Loammi Baldwin, 17 April 1813

In this letter, Lowell approves of Baldwin's contracting with Walton & Moore for the construction of University Hall.

Letter from John Lowell to Loammi Baldwin, 20 October 1813

Lowell recounts meeting Mr. Nelson, a bidder for the stucco and plastering work for University Hall. Lowell recommends that a decision should be made on the work within a week.

Estimate from Josiah Bemis to John Lowell and Loammi Baldwin for Chelmsford granite, [ca. 1813]

Bemis, responding to an advertisement from Lowell and Baldwin requesting bids for building materials, outlines his proposal for using Chelmsford granite for the construction of University Hall. Bemis lists 12 stipulations in his proposal including costs per bricks, techniques for constructing the upper storeys, and labor costs.

Letter from John Lowell to Loammi Baldwin, 19 March 1814

Lowell discusses the selection of a painter for the interior of University Hall with Baldwin.

Agreement between John Lowell and John Walton, Thomas Mason, Joseph Holmes, and Samuel Mason to finish the basement of University Hall, 7 June 1814

This contract includes stipulations for finishing the two kitchens, windows, and floors in University Hall by the first of August 1815.

Letter from Charles Lowell to Delia Tudor, May 8, 1801

In this letter to John Henry Tudor's mother, Delia Tudor, Charles Lowell (Tudor's classmate in the Harvard College class of 1800) writes of his friendship and compassion for her son, and his hope that his health concerns will be resolved.

[Letter presenting Judge Lowell's Eulogy of Governor Bowdoin, 1791]

One leaf containing an unsigned draft of a letter presenting John Lowell's published eulogy of Governor James Bowdoin to the recipient by the order of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The eulogy had been delivered by John Lowell on January 26, 1791.