In reading several of the umpteen gardasil threads here, I learned that if any vaccine is mandated, it is covered by medicaid (under whatever TX state name). If it’s not mandated, the patients/parents have to pay for it. As I understand it, getting the vaccine at your doc’s is upwards of $300. The problem, of course, is that the poor, i.e., medicaid-insured, are those most likely to be susceptible to contracting the disease.
There is the argument to be made (as it has) that a vaccine encourages the behavior. I wouldn’t say it encourages the behavior, which would be conducted in any case. Perhaps having a vaccine paid by the state condones the behavior. But not having the vaccine would not stop it, and there would be a high incidence of what I understand is a truly hideous disease.
I believe that giving kids condoms encourages sex, mostly because it is an adult affirmation that you are expected to be having sex. Also, to the degree you might be scared of getting a girl pregnant or catching a disease, the condom removes that fear.
But I don’t buy that people are deciding not to have sex because of HPV. So I don’t think getting a vaccination that only protects you from half the HPV cases would change that equation.
I have never been impressed by Gardisil, but it is amazing the large number of women who end up getting HPV. Assuming Gardisil didn’t have side effects, and was effective, unless you were certain to marry someone who was a virgin, it might well be worthwhile to get vaccinated.
Virginia required HPV vaccinations for a while, I think they stopped. My daughter never got the vaccine, it’s up to her now since she’s 18.