diff --git a/src/SymptomsCausedByVaccines/HtmlUtils.py b/src/SymptomsCausedByVaccines/HtmlUtils.py
index e8213295a18..3d176370889 100644
--- a/src/SymptomsCausedByVaccines/HtmlUtils.py
+++ b/src/SymptomsCausedByVaccines/HtmlUtils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 def getVaccineOptions(vaccines):
-    return ['<option hidden disabled selected value>Select Vaccine</option>'] + _getOptions(vaccines)
+    return _getOptionsWithDefaultOption(defaultOptionText = 'Select Vaccine', values = vaccines)
 
 
 def getSymptomOptions(symptoms):
-    return ['<option hidden disabled selected value>Select Symptom</option>'] + _getOptions(symptoms)
+    return _getOptionsWithDefaultOption(defaultOptionText = 'Select Symptom', values = symptoms)
+
+
+def _getOptionsWithDefaultOption(defaultOptionText, values):
+    return ['<option hidden disabled selected value>{defaultOptionText}</option>'.format(defaultOptionText = defaultOptionText)] + _getOptions(values)
 
 
 def _getOptions(values):