This week is not just one, but an entire academic administration. Governors of the Catholic school St Monica's High School in Prestwich, Greater Manchester have said they will not allow students to receive the HPV vaccinations on the school's premises. This is strikingly dissimilar to the behavior of other schools, and the Catholic church, which has said "there is nothing wrong with allowing the cervical cancer vaccinations to be given."
Not only are the administrators putting their students at risk for cervical cancer, but they are increasing the barriers to accessing safe medications for students who do not have information about where else to receive the treatment.
The justification of the governors was basically a cop out, blaming side effects of the vaccination that do not occur with every recipient:
The letter says a number of the school's pupils who took part in a pilot study were subsequently off school suffering from nausea, joint pain, headaches and high fevers.
It states: "We do not believe that school is the right place for the three injections to be administered.
"Therefore, governors have taken the decision not to allow the school premises to be used for this programme."
Schools Secretary Ed Balls has said he thinks that "schools should be at the centre of their community and I don't
think schools walking away from their responsibility for children's
health is the way to go," which was the basis for the vaccination programs being started in schools.
So, congratulations governors of St Monica's High School for being the first group of people selected for Dick Of The Week. Your actions preventing young women from receiving potentially life saving medication because of fears associated with inconsistent side effects has won you the award for Dick Of The Week.
Enjoy your increase in cervical cancer outbreaks over the next several years.
Image from Getty Royalty Free.