New Vaccine Promises to Protect Women From Cancer
New Vaccine Promises to Protect Women From Cancer
Editor,
There is a proposed bill to mandate California schools to administer a new vaccination for teenage girls. This vaccination will prevent the development of cervical cancer in its recipients. However, it is a very controversial subject among conservative groups. Why?
Gardasil is a new vaccine that has recently been approved by the FDA over the summer and is the only vaccine that prevents certain types of HPV (human papallomavirus), which is the leading cause of cervical cancer and precacerous lesions of the cervix, and also genital warts.
HPV types 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of cervical cancer while, HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts cases. Gardasil prevents all four types.
So, if this vaccination prevents cancer in women, why is it controversial?
Well, HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and many conservative groups and parents are concerned that the vaccination will send a mixed message about sexual morality to teenage girls – that maybe they will think it’s OK to have sex at a younger age because they are now “protected.”
The answer is simple. Gardasil prevents cancer. It’s the first preventative treatment for a type of cancer to hit the market.
HPV shows no signs (except of course types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts). Women can be tested for HPV through PAP smear, but men, from what I understand, cannot be tested.
HPV is more common than people think. The vaccination is covered by most insurance from what I understand, so there’s no reason why young girls should not get the vaccine.
Yes, it may be hard to talk about the morality, but this vaccination isn’t prompting girls to become sexually active at a young age. It’s simply preventing the leading cause of cervical cancer. The vaccination doesn’t prevent other STDs or pregnancy and so on, so parents should still implement “the talk” about protection and safe sex.
But this is just like another vaccination we have received before. A great example? Hepatitis B. Hep B is also an STD that is spread through the deed or can be passed through intravenous drug use, and yet, we get vaccinated for that. I’m never going to become a drug user, but I’m still vaccinated. So why should parents decide that Gardasil is immoral?
Trust me, girls, get vaccinated (if you’re between the ages 9-26). I had never heard of it until my doctor told me about it a few months ago. And I’m sure you’ve seen those catchy “One Less” campaign commercials on your Lifetime movie commercial break. It’s just three shots. Doesn’t hurt anymore than a tetanus shot does. Ask your doctor about it or check out www.gardasil.com.
Stephanie Oerman
Hollister
