Mandatory vaccines for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for young girls would help save some of the 13,000 women each year who contract forms of the disease and develop cervical cancer.
Pharmaceutical company Merck ‘ Co., recently lobbied to make their GARDASIL vaccine mandatory for middle school-aged girls. The vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration on June 8, would help to prevent cervical cancer in women. GARDASIL is safe for women ages nine to 26 and protects against four types of HPV, which cause cervical cancer. GARDASIL is given to patients in a series of three shots over the course of six months.
The legislation waiting to be passed would require all young girls, possibly as early as the sixth-grade, to receive the vaccine. Parents and guardians can “opt out” of the requirement, but the bill does not discuss under what conditions this would be made possible. Although accusations have been made that Merck is advocating the state laws in order to boost the sales of its vaccine, GARDASIL basically sells itself.
Texas governor Rick Perry announced that he is bypassing the legislature completely and mandating the GARDASIL vaccine for all middle school girls, making Texas the first state to embrace the benefits of the vaccine. By doing so, he has preempted controversy from parents concerned with the message GARDASIL sends to their daughters. Perry has set the best example for other states worried about opposition to GARDASIL. Others should be quick to follow in Perry’s footsteps.
At Fairfield, GARDASIL is available at the Health Center for those who choose to receive the vaccine. The vaccine is given in a series of three injections over a period of six months.
GARDASIL is a great opportunity for young girls to protect themselves against cervical cancer. By vaccinating girls at a young age, GARDASIL will keep them worry-free about contracting HPV when they do become sexually active. The vaccine was added to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s list of Vaccines for Children on Nov. 1 and is extremely beneficial to girls worldwide.
It is the smart choice for any parent to make for a child and if it became a state law it would make the youth of America that much healthier and safer.
Approximately 20 million people in the U. S. alone contracted the types of HPV which cause cervical cancer. Although not all forms of HPV lead to cervical cancer, many can lead to genital warts, a condition that affects one million people each year.
Whether or not these girls choose to become sexually active is a choice to be made in the future, but either way they will be safe from HPV if they are vaccinated.
Passing legislation to make vaccinations required will ensure the protection of young girls before they decide to become sexually active.
Parents should not be worried that it will encourage their daughters to become sexually active; the possibility of contracting an STD does not even need to be discussed. Simply explaining that GARDASIL protects against cervical cancer is enough of a reason to convince any young woman to get it.
Approved in more than 30 countries worldwide, GARDASIL is the best way to prevent cervical cancer. If given at an early age, the GARDASIL recipient will never be able to contract the strain of HPV that causes 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts cases. The vaccine has no serious side effects and most insurance companies cover the shot’s costs. The possible side effects may include redness, soreness and irritation where the shot was given.
GARDASIL is the answer to the prevention of cervical cancer in all young women. There is no reason not to get the vaccine and passing legislation is the best way to ensure that the majority of young, American women are safe.
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