Posted on 08/01/2007 11:01:53 AM PDT by mngran
In addition to the other, obvious problems with this argument (e.g., transmission from male to male via female doesn't have to involve a female infection), you're neglecting the fact that a full third of cervical cancers are NOT prevented by the current vaccines (that is, this vaccine is not effective against the HPV types that currently lead to 30% of cervical cancer cases). (See, for example, Harper et al., The Lancet, April 2006(?))
Of course this also doesn't mean we should rush out and vaccinate all men with this current vaccine. Then again, dropping several hundred dollars per person--male and female--on this vaccine would provide the pharmaceutical companies with lots of extra cash with which they could to research some products that are more effective!
And vice versa. Let the entire prepubertal male population do it, and get back to us later. After all, if they care about their future partners....
What this comes down to is, people don’t trust corps and the Gov to do what’s right anymore. Lust for profits seem to outweigh concern for the common good.
The difference is that 90% of HPV infections disappear with no medical intervention.
Excellent words whitedog57.
I also believe that everyone should get the vaccine, but that it should be a personal decision and not an edict by the government.
Anyone opting not to get the vaccine has that right it that right should not be revoked.
Not getting it when you know the benefits just shows that to are a moron.
LOL...
My sister is an OB nurse. She has done that for 28 years. Even though should always uses double gloves, she did manage a needle stick during an operation a few years ago. That's when the doctor informed her that the patient was HIV+. It was an unconscionable act to have an HIV+ patient on the operating table without notifying all the personnel in the room of that fact. Thus far, my sister has not exhibited any evidence of HIV infection from that stick.
I had to submit to TB skin tests and lung X-rays before being allowed to work in food service in high school. Your observation of the problem with needle sticks for janitorial or garbage collectors is valid. Employers of these people should recommend the HEP B vaccination to their employees. People in those occupations tend not to be well educated, so it would take some effort to explain the value.
BTW, my undergraduate degree is in molecular biology. I did my graduate work in pathogenic bacteriology, but I decided to shift to computer science/electrical engineering before starting my thesis. All the course work was completed.
Pap smears do not "protect" against cervical cancer. They can DIAGNOSE cervical cancer at an early stage, but protect infers that it will prevent it from happening, and a Pap smear does not do that.
Pap smears like colonoscopy can diagnose dysplastic (precancerous) changes that can be treated prior to the development of cancer.
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