Posted on 09/13/2006 4:14:30 AM PDT by 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.
It was your story, that you used to justify government mandated interference.
The state has NO BUSINESS demanding that our daughters be vaccinated against SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED VIRUSES in the sixth grade, no matter what your opinion is. Do you understand that?
Autistic girls cannot contract cervical CANCER?
So true.
"If schools are giving out birth control to 6th graders, carrying girls to abortion clinics without parental concent, why not give them a shot to prevent an STD...???
[/sarcasm]"
And if the 6th grade girl is being raped -she can get this shot AND get an abortion without Planned Parenthood asking any questions as to why a 6th grader is "sexually active" in the first place.
Studies have found the vaccine to be almost 100% effective in preventing diseases caused by the four HPV types covered by the vaccine– including precancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina, and genital warts. The vaccine has mainly been studied in young women who had not been exposed to any of the four HPV types in the vaccine.
The vaccine was less effective in young women who had already been exposed to one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine.
This vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, genital warts, precancers or cancers.
How long does vaccine protection last? Will a booster shot be needed?
The length of vaccine protection (immunity) is usually not known when a vaccine is first introduced. So far, studies have followed women for five years and found that women are still protected. More research is being done to find out how long protection will last, and if a booster vaccine is needed years later.
What does the vaccine not protect against? Because the vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, it will not prevent all cases of cervical cancer or genital warts. About 30% of cervical cancers will not be prevented by the vaccine, so it will be important for women to continue getting screened for cervical cancer (regular Pap tests). Also, the vaccine does not prevent about 10% of genital warts—nor will it prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So it will still be important for sexually active adults to reduce exposure to HPV and other STIs.
"And, do you really believe God intends to single out woman and impose this cancer as a punishment for sexual intimacy?"
This is a thoughtful question and I for one do not think that God operates that way. For example, apart from those women who have had multiple partners throughout their lives, it is also more common in the second wives of men whose first wives had died from cervical cancer. In those instances, and others where a married woman contracts the virus from a cheating husband, the woman is totally innocent.
"I'm going to train my daughters to look for men who have not had intercourse before they get married."
That's an admirable plan, unfortunately there are members of both sexes who sometimes do not tell the whole truth. Therein lies the risk.
Don't know if you saw this. I've skimmed through, and will re-read when I get a chance.
Here and there in between the broadsides is some very important info. Looks as though if girls do not have sex with an infected man before age 25 they're much less likely to get it anyway, and who knows how long the vaccine even lasts.
"Idiocy. Hysterical idiocy molded into legislation."
Perhaps. But I'd suggest Following The Money.
spatso - if you talk about someone, especially in a nasty way as you just did, you should ping the person so criticized.
You don't know that?
It's really amazing me that you are saying that if anyone is doubtful about getting their 11 year old daughter vaccinated, this is tantamount to punishing them.
People aren't animals, you know. They can reason, they have reasons, and they can make reasoned choices. Many, many drugs of various kinds have been thought to be safe and were later pulled because of terrible side effects. That alone is enough to give some parents pause.
For legislation both some good degree of loud public support is needed, in addition to -- as you very correctly say in this case -- the grift. Legislators feed on the roar of the presumed crowd and the munchable EFT grass.
Ah - you are here. This thread is crazy, isn't it?
The comments on this thread are mind boggling. Proof that liberaltarians are nanny staters after all.
What whore did Jesus befriend?
And anyway, did he or did he not tell sinners to stop sinning?
My husband and I have spoken with both of our children (13 year old girl and 11 year old boy) about our Christian values and how their sexuality fits in with that. I taught the abstinence program pre-teen girls at my church. Part of that lesson included pictures of the results of HPV. When I brought the subject of the thread today with my 13 year old daughter and asked her what she thought about getting the vaccine she said " Yuck Mom, I'm not doin' it till I'm married". We are doing fine in the parent department.
"Sexual contact only within a monogamous marriage is not, and has never been, the norm for a majority of people on Earth."
Wow! So you can see the history of everyone on earth, from the very beginning of the entire world! Is this true for the entire universe, as well?
Would that more parents were like you.
What doesn't work is "praying"
I disagree. Prayer + Upbringing + my daughter's squeamishness about the idea of sex will all work out in the end.
And the parents don't get to pick who the partner is or what kind of history he had. It may be someone who was once messed up, but set himself right before meeting her.
I agree that parents should get to make the call on this for their kids, but IMHO a vacination against a disease is not encouragement to expose yourself to that disease. I never went looking for someone with smallpox to go play with.
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