Cervical Cancer Shot May Be Standard In 6th Grade

The Indy Channel ^ | September 12, 2006 | AP

[Abathar]

A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers wants all sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against cervical cancer.

A Republican state senator who is the lead sponsor said it's the first legislation of its kind in the U.S.

The vaccine was approved by federal regulators this summer and hailed as a breakthrough in cancer prevention. The shots prevent infections from strains of a sexually transmitted virus -- human papilloma virus, or HPV -- that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

At the time, conservatives expressed concern that schools would require the vaccine for enrollment. They argue that such mandates infringe on parents' rights and send a message that underage sex is OK.

If approved, the measure would go into effect for the next school year.

The vaccine was approved for females between ages 9 and 26. In studies, it was credited with preventing disease from the two types of HPV that are responsible for approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancers, according to Detroit television station WDIV.

The legislator who proposed the requirement noted that, as with all other school-required vaccines, parents may opt out of this requirement for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.

[Fawn]

WHY?

[sandbar]

>>>Or I suppose it could be "just another" childhood shot. Granted, my childhood was a long time ago, but the only thing I ever knew about a doctor's appointment was whether I was getting a shot or not. I don't recall ever being told what any of them were for, or asking.>>>

Bingo. I don't intend on telling my daughters, now you can go have sex freely without worrying about cervical cancer. Sheesh. This will be no more a big deal than a tetnis shot or booster shot.

[Fawn]

What about a dirty toilet seat? :)
It seems like such a stupid debate.

[spatso]

"When you play fast and loose with Natural Law on a regular basis, bad things will happen to you. It's axiomatic."

And, do you really believe God intends to single out woman and impose this cancer as a punishment for sexual intimacy?

[Antoninus]

When they wrap that hatred in Catholic "faith package," I feel personally offended.

Here's Catholic moral teaching on this subject in a nutshell: "Intercourse before marriage is a sin. Sexual relations with someone other than your spouse outside of marriage is a sin." Is that hatred? Does this offend you? If you think so, then I suppose that Jesus Christ was the most "offensive hater" in human history. After all, he said:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Once again--unless we address the underlying reason why 30-50% of young women (and unknown numbers of young men) contracted HPV in the first place, this vaccine is only a way station--a quick fix. Other, even more virulent STDs will arise.

[ahayes]

Probably a waste of time. I've even been told that we shouldn't encourage condom use for women in Africa whose husbands have HIV because pushing condoms encourages promiscuity.

[ahayes]

Other, even more virulent STDs will arise.

So we shouldn't do anything to mitigate the effects of ones that are common already?

As has already been pointed out, completely virtuous married women can be infected with this virus by their husbands.

[sandbar]

>>>I am not familiar with this disease. It is obviously transmitted by promiscuity. Can it also be transmitted in (real) monogamous relations?

No.>>>

Don't listen to this unintellegent creature who labels this the 'slut shot'. The only "real" monogamous relationship would be two people who never touched anyone, ever. As this is NOT just transmitted with typical intercourse. It is transmitted through other means.

[sandbar]

>>>Nah it doesn't make sense. People tend to forget that HPV can be spread through rape as well. But I don't see why it must be mandatory>>>

Apparently Antoninus thinks only sluts get raped.

[Antoninus]

And, do you really believe God intends to single out woman and impose this cancer as a punishment for sexual intimacy?

I don't pretend to know the Will of God. Do you? Simple observation should be enough to show you that when you engage in a practice that goes against Natural Law long enough (casual sex, gluttony, physical aggression, taking drugs, etc.) bad things almost invariably happen to you. Do you disagree with this?

That said, who is more likely to contract an STD? A monogamous woman in a stable marriage with a monogamous man (almost 0%)? Or a tramp who has a dozen sex partners in the course of a year (almost 100%)?

[sandbar]

>>>"When you play fast and loose with Natural Law on a regular basis, bad things will happen to you. It's axiomatic."

And, do you really believe God intends to single out woman and impose this cancer as a punishment for sexual intimacy?>>>

Yes, and AIDS is God's punishment for Homosexuality. *eye roll* This Antonius is a real piece of work. Maybe he's a plant from DU as to what THEY think a 'conservative' is.

[DouglasKC]

The headline is completely misleading.

[Antoninus]

Apparently Antoninus thinks only sluts get raped.

-> The HPV vaccine must be mandatory so that women who get raped won't contract the disease.

-> Abortion must be legal so that women who get raped can have them.

-> Guns must be outlawed because young children occasionally shoot themselves.

Sorry, but making public policy for all via worst-case scenario is not an argument that resonates with me at all.

[spatso]

"Probably a waste of time. I've even been told that we shouldn't encourage condom use for women in Africa whose husbands have HIV because pushing condoms encourages promiscuity."

Sometimes I have a greater need to say something than for someone to hear what I say. This is one of those cases for me.

A family member is HPV positive the result of being infected by a promiscuous husband of nineteen years. She now needs to go for screening every six months to determine if a cancerous condition has evolved from the HPV. Now when a religious slime bucket suggests that this has happened because of some offense to God I know that they have never really known God and their beliefs are merely projections of their own hatred for the human person.

[ahayes]

They "ask for it" you know. *headdesk*

[Antoninus]

It is transmitted through other means.

Do you truly believe that 30-50% of young women today would currently have HPV if not for the culture which says that casual sex is ok? Answer honestly.

[tkathy]

So I was playing with the dog while typing. Virus, bacteria, can't someone figure out the real problem?

[ahayes]

Yes, this is so ridiculous. At my conservative Baptist-affiliated Christian school as I was growing up we lost two consecutive pricipals when they were fired for adultery (one with the school secretary). There's this ridiculous assumption that all "misbehavior" is going to be on the part of the woman.

[Antoninus]

Yes, and AIDS is God's punishment for Homosexuality. *eye roll* This Antonius is a real piece of work. Maybe he's a plant from DU as to what THEY think a 'conservative' is.

So you can engage in all kinds of deviant behavior and suffer no consequences? Is that it? Is that a conservative position? You're much more likely to find cheerleaders for casual sex on DU than on FR.

If you eat nothing but lard, how healthy will you be?

If you smoke crack 3 times per day, how healthy will you be?

If you have a dozen different sex partners in a year, how healthy will you be?

These are not hard questions. And one doesn't need to be a "religious fanatic" to know the answers.

[ahayes]

So you support a woman being punished for her husband's sin?