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.

[steve-b]

As for my family, we're going to teach them how not to catch STDs.

While you're at it, teach them how not to crash the car, and demand that seat belts be relegated to the status of optional accessories.

[ahayes]

What's a "culture of female sensuality"? Can I have one? As a female I think it sounds pretty appealing.

[Antoninus]

It's my fault, I didn't recognize his characterization of "slut shot" as coming from Christian Love.

No, it's my fault. I'm used to arguing with men, where it's common to use a more direct form of argumentation than the touchy-feely stuff. I should have realized that some of the ladies might get offended.

Christian love can be expressed forcefully (verbally, not physically, of course), particularly when one is dealing with mass delusion. In fact, that method works very well on certain people. Just not the sensitive types.

[Antoninus]

Add condescending to the hatred.

Linda and I have a long correspondence in that regard. You wouldn't understand.

[ahayes]

I was going to put a forceful expression of Christian love here, but I felt compelled to edit myself.

[Antoninus]

The difference between withholding a cancer vaccine and an Islamic Fundamentalist "honor killing" is that death by beheading for being a "slut" is quicker and less painful than death by cancer for being a "slut".

#1. This is not a cancer vaccine. It's an STD vaccine.

#2. Are you, oh great liberal-tarian, agreeing that the shot should be mandated by the government?

I know intellectual honesty isn't your strong suit, but come on!

[spatso]

"What's a "culture of female sensuality"? Can I have one? As a female I think it sounds pretty appealing."

Tender, gentle, nurturing.

[Antoninus]

Was the second part of your post relevant in some fashion??

Only if you truly care about ending the scourge of STDs and aren't just advocating for quick fixes. Here it is again:

Can you tell me honestly that you think HPV would ever have infected 30-50% of the young women in America if not for American society's casual-sex-affirmative position?

[linda_22003]

If it involves long, hot bubble baths, count me in.

[ahayes]

Oh darn. I was hoping it had something to do with hedonism. ;-)

[Antoninus]

While you're at it, teach them how not to crash the car, and demand that seat belts be relegated to the status of optional accessories.

Are you really a liberal-tarian? Or just a Nader-ite nanny-statist?

[Antoninus]

I was going to put a forceful expression of Christian love here, but I felt compelled to edit myself.

Go for it. I can take it.

[ahayes]

Hum, did I miss a dilemma somewhere? Are my choices either 1) eradicate STDs through solely behavior modification or 2) lower the rate of infection solely through immunization? Because if my choices are truly that limited I agree it is very important to know. Currently I feel free to attempt to reach this goal using all tools available, but I guess that is a mistake!

[ahayes]

No, really, my scruples hold me back. I'm sorry. :-(

[ahayes]

If it involves long, hot bubble baths, count me in.

spatso doesn't seem to think it does, but I think we could build our own cult of female hedonism including long, hot bubble baths, chocolate, and hot tea plus a good book.

[Antoninus]

You may be the only person ever who was more likable as a pervert than what you are as a Christian.

You do realize that you're only encouraging me...

"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man."

Loving your enemies is the calling of Christians. And I have no trouble saying that I love someone, even if they follow an abominable ideology.

[Antoninus]

No, really, my scruples hold me back. I'm sorry. :-(

If you truly believed that what you had written could help me become a better Christian, why would you hold back?

[HairOfTheDog]

As for my family, we're going to teach them how not to catch STDs.

While you're at it, teach them how not to crash the car, and demand that seat belts be relegated to the status of optional accessories.

Heh... I think that's a pretty good analogy, really. I mean, if you've taught your daughter to drive safely, you should demand she never wear a seatbelt. A seatbelt might give her a false sense of security that would make her do something unsafe.

This thread has a whole lot of hysterics on it and not a lot of common sense. The shot might be part of the standard regimen for school in the future. It does prevent a cancer that really exists, and is a lot more common than polio and diptheria and the other shots we give our kids to prevent diseases that were once common. If you are that dead-set against it, you can opt out of the shots, like you can all the other shots if you are anti-immunization, and still send the kids to school. And if you really don't want to risk your kids mingling with heathens, you can homeschool, like so many do, and bypass the whole show.

It's really not that complicated.

[EBH]

I don't know but some here are really working hard to think their girls are holier than thou...

My daughter will get the vaccine. Why? Because she deserves to be protected from HPV. Letting her run the risk of infection either due to a moment of indiscretion on her part or due to rape is unacceptable.

A few bits of information on HPV http://www.fahc.org/pathology/Pathology_Contribution/Documents/HPV_Documents/HPV_FAQ.pdf#search='how%20to%20catch%20hpv'

[ahayes]

Because I basically disagree with you that rudeness is a virtue.