D.C. Bill Would Mandate Vaccine-Proposal for Girls Under 13 Targets Cervical Cancer

The Washington Post ^ | 10 Jan 2007 | Nikita Stewart and Rob Stein

[FLOutdoorsman]

The D.C. Council opened its legislative year by introducing a bill that could make the District one of the first jurisdictions in the country to require girls younger than 13 years old to get a new nationally debated vaccine against cervical cancer.

Female students enrolling in the sixth grade would be asked to show proof of receiving the vaccine against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) under the bill, introduced yesterday by council members David A. Catania (I-At Large) and Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3).

A parent or legal guardian would have the right to "opt out" of the requirement, Catania said, but the bill does not detail under what circumstances exemptions would be permitted.

Similar proposals are pending in Kentucky and California, and several other states are also considering such legislation. A bill to require the vaccine failed last year in Michigan.

[FLOutdoorsman]

Hillary Healthcare Preview.

[nmh]

My daughter is almost 8 years old. When she is 13, she will also NOT BE HAVING SEX.

So,

"vaccine against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV)"

this will NOT be necessary in this household.

We are old fashioned conservatives who KNOW what our kids are doing. We are THERE WATCHING and INVOLVED.

[nmh]

Just great for those who WANT this:

"Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the vaccine for all girls ages 11 and 12, an adviser to the academy said he thought it was premature to recommend making it mandatory. "I think it's too early," said Joseph A. Bocchini, who chairs the academy's committee on infectious diseases.

"This is a new vaccine. It would be wise to wait until we have additional information about the safety of the vaccine."

[BubbaHeel]

The D.C. Council opened its legislative year by introducing a bill that could make the District one of the first jurisdictions in the country to require girls younger than 13 years old to get a new nationally debated vaccine against cervical cancer.

At the risk of sounding like a do-gooder, doesn't this discriminate against the girls [and in favor of the boys]?

Seems only fair that if the girls are required to get it, then the boys ought to be required to get it, as well [unless for some reason it's ineffective in boys???].

[Guenevere]

I knew this was coming.
Words cannot express how angry I am....

...and please, don't even post to me how I should be glad our children MUST get one more shot against sexually transmitted diseases...that it will help them, blah blah blah blah blah.

I don't want your posts and I won't respond.

Coming to your city soon....and your schools!

[BenLurkin]

Mandate?!?

For a noncommunicable disease nonetheless!

Government has gone mad with power.

[Calpernia]

Hide our daughters ping

[FLOutdoorsman]

Sounds like they are practicing without a Medical License, but anything for the Children.

[CholeraJoe]

I respect your decision. Are you also going to withhold the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine because she doesn't associate with Amish children (who typically aren't immunized?)

[Damocles]

Well, since the vaccine is for cervical cancer I think it rules out those without a cervix.

[Graybeard58]

I was about to ping her myself. Good morning to you both.

[Calpernia]

You know a boy with a cervix?

[Rummyfan]

Mandate?!?

For a noncommunicable disease nonetheless!

Government has gone mad with power.

Truly! Another reason to get your child out of public schools.

[Calpernia]

Good morning! :)

[nmh]

"I respect your decision. Are you also going to withhold the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine because she doesn't associate with Amish children (who typically aren't immunized?)"

I don't compare

"Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine"

to cervical cancer caused by sexual activity.

Sorry to hear you are so casual about early sex and mix it in common chlidhood ailments.

The Amish don't appear to be too unhealthy WITHOUT all these LIVE germs injected into them.

[Calpernia]

Look at it this way, if CholeraJoe wants to offer up his daughter as a guinea pig....he can be our guest :P

[tellw]

There is a genital warts virus vaccine Gardasil that Merck is trying to get approval for boys. See http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/health/30vaccine.html?ex=1309320000&en=73611cb06d9b311d&ei=5090

[KarlInOhio]

HPV and the genital warts assosiated with it are communicable. The guys just don't have the added risk of getting cervical cancer but they can spread HPV.

A lot of the benefits of widespread vaccination isn't just to the individual (because not every vaccination "takes") but to society as a whole because if 90% can't get and spread a disease that cuts down on the number of chances to spread it to the unvaccinated or to those on whom the vaccination didn't work.

[Graybeard58]

Maybe you'll live it down eventually.