Why does a 12-year old need it?
Because Captain Gardasil (AKA Rick Perry) says so.
The mom probably thought the girl could become sexually active at any time, although since the last name sounds Caucasian it is unlikely.
But we have such a large population of black and Hispanics that reach puberty at age eleven or twelve, doctors have probably made a sweeping age recommendation for all races.
Kind of like we had the food pyramid so very high in bread and grains so as to feed those in the population with less resources.
A 12 year old needs the vaccine because if she waits until she is sexually active, she may very well get infected with the virus. At that point, the vaccine won’t do any good.
Since the vaccine has been approved, the incidence of HPV in teenagers has dropped by 56%. That means that the number of future cervical (and other HPV caused cancers) will decrease by 56%. That represents a lot of lives saved.
Around 19,000 HPV cancers in women and 8,000 HPV cancers in men develop every year. The vaccine has the potential to prevent about 70% of those cancers.
Because she’s going to have unprotected sex at any time now, of course.
“Why does a 12-year old need it?”
Oh gee maybe it’s because of the male teachers in her school? Or am I wrong?