Gardasil the answer to HPV
I was passively watching the local news last night (and
thoroughly enjoying my Ben
&
amp; Jerry’s ice cream) when a story caught my attention…
There is a proposed bill to mandate California schools 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 the answer to HPV
By Stephanie Oerman
Guest columnist
I was passively watching the local news last night (and thoroughly enjoying my Ben & Jerry’s ice cream) when a story caught my attention… There is a proposed bill to mandate California schools 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 precancerous 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, and Gardasil (bless it’s heart) prevents all four types.
So, if this vaccination prevents cancer in women, why is it so 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 their young teenage daughters. That maybe they will think it’s okay to have sex at a younger age because they are now “protected.” Churches are stirred up because they preach abstinence. How are they to continue preaching such a practice if young girls are being vaccinated against an STD?
The answer is simple … Gardisil prevents CANCER. It’s the first preventative treatment for a type of cancer to hit the market.
I don’t know how many of you are familiar with HPV, it’s symptoms, and whatnot. But basically, HPV shows no signs (except of course types 6 and 11 which cause genital warts). Women can be tested for HPV through a PAP smear, but men, from what I understand, cannot be tested. Which means you will never know if your partner has it. Tell that to the minister of the church. You could be a virgin on your wedding day and still contract HPV and potentially cervical cancer because you have no idea where your partner has been, even if he does test clean for STDs. Or how about this one? You abstain form sex your entire life and then get sexually assaulted by a man carrying HPV (knock on wood). Oops, there’s another case of cervical cancer that could have been prevented.
The statistics are alarming. It is estimated that 20,000 people in the US have already had HPV in 2005, and 6 million cases are popping up per year (however, this is including all 30 types of HPV, not just 6, 11, 16, and 18). HPV is so easy to spread because it shows no signs and is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Intercourse is not necessary. All other types of HPV go away on their own and cause no problems, which is another reason why it is so easy to spread.
Okay, so now that I’ve briefed you…
HPV is more common than people think. The vaccination is covered by most insurances 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 3 shots. Doesn’t hurt anymore than a tetanus shot does. Ask your doctor about it or check out http://www.gardasil.com.
