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Your question was a thinly veiled attempt at relativism. My question cut through the veil, and apparently touched a nerve beneath. Here's your answer : Click to CDC Wonder, Group Results By Vaccine, click Send, sort by Events Reported, and search the page for Gardasil (or sum all occurrences of HPV). There's your answer, relative and meaningless surrounded by polio and pneumonia. Now, how many children would you find it acceptable to kill or maim to prevent a cancer the American Cancer Society has stated is one of these most treatable and has been in a steady decline of nearly 4% per year since 1992 -- long before the introduction of any vaccinations?

I’m glad you can read minds. Must be nice.

Also, where did I ever say this vaccine should be mandatory? I’m perfectly fine with it being optional and don’t think it should be pulled off the market. I’ve recommended to my daughter that she consider it herself.

Now, where are the studies that show this vaccine is responsible for any deaths? Have you stopped beating your wife yet?

Now, how many children would you find it acceptable to kill or maim to prevent a cancer the American Cancer Society has stated is one of these most treatable and has been in a steady decline of nearly 4% per year since 1992 -- long before the introduction of any vaccinations?

The decrease in incidence of cervical cancer results from better screening methods, and does not reflect any decrease in the number of HPV cases. According to this very informative website, between 250,000 and 1 million cases of cervical dysplasia are diagnosed in the US per year. Dysplasia is a pre-cancerous condition caused by HPV which, left untreated, has a high chance of developing into full-blown cancer.

We aren't just talking about preventing cancer deaths, we're talking about preventing dysplasias which can have serious health consequences. Treatment for dysplasia can be very effective for preventing cancer; unfortunately, it can also be quite effective for preventing future childbirth. Cervical dysplasia may be treated by LEEP, in which part of the cervix is removed. Sometimes, one LEEP procedure doesn't eliminate the virus, and the LEEP must be repeated. Each LEEP procedure damages the cervix, increasing the patient's risk of miscarriage should she get pregnant. Sometimes, the virus penetrates so deeply into the tissue that the only effective treatment is a hysterectomy, leaving the woman sterile. A gynecologist I worked with told me of having to do a hysterectomy on a 19 year old girl who had become infected at age 16, and remained infected after several LEEP treatments.

If just 50% of HPV infections can be prevented with the vaccine, that represents a HUGE savings in terms of treatment costs and overall health benefits.