There is a new cervical cancer vaccine called Gardasil that is awaiting FDA approval. The vaccine works by immunizing women against the strains of human papilloma virus that are associated with cervical cancer. The vaccine is also being tested in men. In clinical trials, Gardasil was successful in preventing 100 per cent of cases of high-grade pre-cancer and non-invasive cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) strains Type 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer. It could potentially prevent 350,000 cases of cancer over the next 20 years.
Conservative groups have opposed the vaccine with the concern that it would encourage sexual promiscuity, as seen in this Campus Progress article http://tinyurl.com/rdgrj:
Conservative groups have opposed the vaccine with the concern that it would encourage sexual promiscuity, as seen in this Campus Progress article http://tinyurl.com/rdgrj:
Shawna Peays, who works at an abstinence-advocacy organization called the Medical Institute for Sexual Health in Austin, Texas, says the vaccine is hardly a safeguard and could confuse teens who think it protects against all HPV strains and Sexually Transmitted Infections.“The HPV vaccine would not provide protection against the 20+ other known sexually transmitted infections…nor would it prevent nonmarital [sic] pregnancy,” she wrote in an e-mail. “The Medical Institute will continue to strongly promote abstinence for unmarried teenagers as the healthiest lifestyle choice.”
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization that “champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization,” said in a recently published Fortune article that he won’t let his daughter get the shots because it sends the wrong message about pre-marital sex.
Mr. Perkins, what sort of message does it send to your daughter about the right to self-determination over one's own body and the right to benefit from life-saving medical advances? If your daughter engages in premarital sex, even once, do you want to condemn her to a potentially fatal disease as a consequence? It seems just a bit harsh, doesn't it?
9 comments:
Amazing. The Christianists can politisize anything. Some culture of life.
Yikes! Lets OPPOSE a vaccine because it doesn't prevent pregnancy or other deseases? They should oppose the measles vaccine, too.
A desease that may show up 50 years after infection is a real disincentive for teenagers having sex. Yeah, right. Gotta keep those punishments around, ya know!
Even better, I have heard that the vaccine will cost several hundred dollars for the required three shots.
Those guys at Merck - they're really looking out for the welfare of the public.
InternetJunkie
"I" Dock: "... If your daughter engages in premarital sex, even once, do you want to condemn her to a potentially fatal disease as a consequence? It seems just a bit harsh, doesn't it?"
Mr 'Poor Werkin' Perkins: Yes I wood! Apparently you are unaware of Ole Testament Ch(R)istians and our return to the holiness of ha(R)sh' ...
As well you seem unaware that some boyz could convince young gurls that Guard-ass-ill is injected with the 'evil wand'
Paternally (as Gawd intended it),
Snerd
Merk doesn't even have good free stuff when you order fromt them, so they're just plain all around bad!
At least Restek and Supelco give good flashlights!
I need a vaccine against unemployment!
I know Merck's not a charity, but this at least has the potential to save lives.
Wow. How absolutely, overly harsh. That poor girl. What about others' rights to raise their own kids with their values?
best.
title.
ever.
KEvron
That article is misleading. The Medical Institute's website states and they are in favor of the vaccine. Their message simply is to be sure that people who receive the vaccine are educated so that they don't have a false sense of security that it will protect them from all the strains of HPV or other STDs.
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