on a slightly different note
Several states, chief among them Texas have, or are considering requiring that young women be vaccinated against HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that has been linked to causing cervical cancer. Many are opposed to this requirement, as the condition is not casually transmitted, (that is, by breathing the same air, using bathrooms, water fountains, etc).
I fear that the sexually transmitted aspect of this particular bug, in conjunction with the notion that it be administered to girls around the age of 12, is going to be the leading talking (shouting) point on this, instead of the fact that it may be mandated by law, (as opposed to many vaccinations that are not).
I have a daughter old enough to have this vaccine, and as of now, I am not at all comfortable with it, not because of the sexual aspect, (legally, she is old enough to make her own decision on that), but because I know so little about the new vaccine, and its potential for harm, (unlikely though that might be).
Does anybody out there have any experience with this drug, or any specifics regarding its history and anticipated benefits?
I fear that the sexually transmitted aspect of this particular bug, in conjunction with the notion that it be administered to girls around the age of 12, is going to be the leading talking (shouting) point on this, instead of the fact that it may be mandated by law, (as opposed to many vaccinations that are not).
I have a daughter old enough to have this vaccine, and as of now, I am not at all comfortable with it, not because of the sexual aspect, (legally, she is old enough to make her own decision on that), but because I know so little about the new vaccine, and its potential for harm, (unlikely though that might be).
Does anybody out there have any experience with this drug, or any specifics regarding its history and anticipated benefits?
posted by eccentric recluse at 8:08 PM
10 Comments:
Afraid I don't know much about it all, but I think the potential for good outweighs the harm (HPV is serious, and I doubt the vaccine will increase sexual activity).
Did you say your 12 year old daughter is old enough to decide whether to have sex? Damn!
I have a big problem with the government forcing people to have things injected into their bodies, especially if it's not for a highly communicable disease. And I also have a problem with the fact that it's sex-related. How dare they assume that all 12 year olds are having sex? And how do you think the public would react if the government tried to force all 12 year old girls to take birth control, whether they needed it or not? I hope there would be outrage!
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And, as a point of clarity, I do not believe that those recommending this vaccine at age 12 are assuming that 12 year olds are sexually active, I think that they want the vaccine in place, and an immunity built up by the time that these youngsters do cross that particular line.
and finally, no, I do not think a 12 year old is capable of such decisions. my daughter hasn't been 12 for a long time, (though at times she can act like it...).
I think this should be voluntary. The vaccine sounds like a good idea but of course since it's new there are probably unknown side effects. Then again, this HPV thing could wind up being the next AIDS so if that ever does happen then it should be mandatory. And plus, by that time most of, if not all of the kinks associated with the vaccine will have been worked out.
The issue of working the kinks out looms large in my thinking. And since this is not a cancer vaccine as such, should it not also be administered to men, who, presumably harbor and spread the virus, (at each and every opportunity)?
It's a line that understandably resists being crossed, but I have to weigh in here as being in favor of the process if it eliminates even some form of cancer. If there were shots to prevent AIDS and any or all venereal diseases, I would be in favor of that, too, even if it meant innoculating 1st graders. I think we need to let go of that perceived inference that this will encourage sexual activity. The mechanisms for encouraging sexual activity have already been in place for thousands and thousands of years.
Roy
I don't think the vaccine would encourage sexual activity either. That's not the problem I have with it. I do think it should be voluntary. At my age (40) I'm more at risk for certain things, including cancer, than young people are. That shot might be worth the risk for me; but I would still want the choice to be mine. This thing reeks of the medical experiments the government is sometimes accused of performing on soldiers. And now they want to do it to children.
This thing reeks of the medical experiments
I understand. I worry about stuff like this because most times I am familiar enough with any government operations to actually have a valid opinion, it is usually the case that they are inept and only marginally ethical. I would reserve judgment on this from that angle.
Roy
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