Some folks just put politics in front of anything. HPV is an insanely common disease, and yes the vaccine doesn’t guard against all, and yes, HPV is not the only way cervical cancers happen.
HPV is a skin disease, that’s it.. when certain forms of it infect the membranes, it can cause warts, and the long term risk of cervical cancer that comes with it. Also, there is belief that the same HPV’s may be behind throat cancers, as folks exposed in the mouth can also be infected.
So if a safe vaccine were out there, that could reduce the chances of my child contracting a disease that could risk her life, and yes cancers are life threatening events, I certainly would consider it. I would not give it to a 9 year old, and I would not look at it as a free pass to be promiscuous.
The problem is is that because HPV is viewed by some as strictly a sexual disease (which in fact it isn’t) they project more taboo on it than reality. its not, its a disease of the skin and its incredibly common... and certain strands if they infect the membranes can lead to warts or cancer.
Give it to your son too (if you have one).
It’s been awhile since I taught sex ed, and so I haven’t kept up with the newest information. Are you saying that you can get a genital infection, which could lead to cervical cancer without sexual contact? If that’s what you’re saying can you please give me a reference so I can read it and be up to date on the newest info?
susie