Perry orders anti-cancer vaccine for schoolgirls

Houston Chronicle/AP ^ | Feb. 2, 2007 | LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON

[CholeraJoe]

Boys get HPV infection in the form of genital warts and can spread it to females who in turn get cervical or oropharyngeal cancer. Boys and boys together (it happens even in Texas) can cause oropharyngeal and anal cancers.

[mewzilla]

That's probably because boys can't get cervical cancer.

But they can get penile cancer from certain strains of HPV, IIRC. And they can certainly spread HPV.

[Antoninus]

That's probably because boys can't get cervical cancer.

But they carry the virus. And if they're sexual profligates, will give it out liberally to every girl they shag. Trust me, it's only a matter of time before Nanny Perry mandates this for boys as well.

[Antoninus]

Psst - HPV-types can also be transmitted through simple contact, not just sexual intercourse.

But honestly, do you really think the "simple contact" route is why an estimated 30-50% of sexually active females have HPV?

[Spktyr]

Not until Merck completes the male testing and gets FDA approval, and that's well more than 5-7 years away.

[CholeraJoe]

This isn't the first anti-cancer vaccine that has been made mandatory. Hepatitis B vaccine prevents liver cancer.

[Malacoda]

Actually, some people see mandating a vaccine that is unneccesary as a usurpation of parental rights.

[OldFriend]

NJ mandates that every child attending school be given the Hepatitus vaccine (not sure which one)

A parent refused to vaccinate his child and not only was the child banned from the classroom but the school system moved to remove the child from the parents home.

This was a NJ freeper and goes back a few years ago. I do not know how this was resolved.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

I'm just making the point that girls would not get the virus unless they are having sex with boys.. so why not figure out how to nip it in the bud at the source first?

[lqclamar]

Psst - HPV-types can also be transmitted through simple contact, not just sexual intercourse.

You're wrong about that. Yes, there are many different HPV viruses spread by many means. There are STD-specific HPV viruses though, and they are the ones most likely to cause cancer.

[Spktyr]

Of course not, but there is a significant number of cervical cancer patients with HPV that weren't sexually active or their monogamous partner doesn't have it.

In several cases, the women with HPV were cloistered nuns.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

POPULATION CONTROL ALERT

[Dog Gone]

I don't know all the ways HPV can be transmitted, but vaccines are far more cost-effective than treating the disease it prevents.

It apparently results in a worse, and potentially fatal, outcome for females. What woman wouldn't want the vaccine? Even a virgin until marriage ought to have the protection, if it's only contagious by sex, unless she knows her husband doesn't have the virus.

[Tarheel]

This is going back quite a few years but as I recall Thalidomide was used extensively in Europe and the UK fortunately for only a short period of time. Its seems the drug relieved morning sickness that can be a problem during the first trimester. Once the birth abnormalities started coming in from all over it was yanked from the market.

Fortunately the drug never got FDA approval in the states because of one woman who sat on the FDA review panel. The pharma company pushed the FDA hard on it but this woman would not budge. She had heard via her professional grapevine of the first defects and physicians in Europe were suspecting the Thalidomide. Thanks to her we were spared the bulk of the Thalidomide tragedy.

There were some cases here. These women had brought the drug back from Europe. As I recall it did not take many doses to cause the defects--a couple of gals only took it 3 or 4 times. That first trimester is the foundation for a healthy baby and the drug interrupted the development resulting in deformed or no limbs.

My daughters are all too old but if I were faced with giving them this vax I would seriously hestitate. The longitudinal studies on this vax have yet to come in. Talk to me in 10 or 15 years once the current group of girls who receive this vax have healthy babies.

Also, this vax does not prevent all forms of cervical cancer. The ads state that pertinent fact in small letters.

[ShadowDancer]

Also, boys don't get cervical cancer (check your anatomy knowledge!) If there was an inoculation against prostate cancer, I'm sure it'd be mandatory, too - would you be complaining that the girls didn't have to get that vaccination?

Last time I checked, men weren't getting prostate cancer from STD's on a regular basis. Anatomy isn't the only thing you need to check your knowledge on.

[lqclamar]

That seems a bit harsh.

Perry just called every middle school child in Texas a whore by signing this thing. Affixing the same label to him is entirely appropriate.

[spectre]

In most states I believe it is mandatory for any child who starts school to have current childhood immuinizations.

THAT IS, unless you are an illegal immigrant. Then it's no problemo.

Gov. Perry should focus on seeing to it ALL children are up to date on the shots they are supposed to have...NOT THIS!

sw

[mewzilla]

This isn't the first anti-cancer vaccine that has been made mandatory. Hepatitis B vaccine prevents liver cancer.

Well, I haven't had it. According to this....

Viral Hepatitis B Fact Sheet

...and my doc, I'm not in a high risk group. So no thanks :)

[Antoninus]

It apparently results in a worse, and potentially fatal, outcome for females. What woman wouldn't want the vaccine? Even a virgin until marriage ought to have the protection, if it's only contagious by sex, unless she knows her husband doesn't have the virus.

That's fine. It's your opinion. But are you telling me you're comfortable with mandating that EVERY teenage girl must get it? I'm not.

[daybreakcoming]

The main thing wrong here that I see is that they should have made a vaccine for the boys first.

If readers read the whole thing - there is a opt-out. I will be studying it.