Advancing gender equity in HPV vaccination: A rule utilitarian case for including boys in South Africa’s national programme

We examine whether South Africa’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme aligns with rule utilitarianism principles, considering ethical and societal dimensions. From a rule utilitarian perspective, we argue that the current policy should be revised to include boys because this change would generate greater overall benefit than the current exclusionary model. Specifically, we advocate for universal access to free HPV vaccinations for all eligible adolescents in South Africa. By using a framework grounded in rule utilitarianism, we aim to highlight the perceived unfairness and ethical concerns associated with excluding boys from the current school-based, free HPV vaccination programme. We assert that this exclusion undermines the programme’s broader public health benefits and moral justifiability.