Cervical cancer vaccine required

[Skylace]

Governor Richardson will sign legislation that would require girls entering the sixth grade to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer.

Richardson’s spokesman, Gil Gallegos, says no date has been set for it to be signed, but it probably will be later this week.

The measure will go into effect 90 days from the governor’s signature.

A Corrales physician and Republican state Senator, Steve Komadina, says the vaccine is one of the biggest improvements in women’s health in his lifetime.

Gallegos says Richardson believes it’s imperative for girls to be protected against cervical cancer.
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I'm split on this. I think it's a good idea but requiring 11 and 12 year olds to get it is a bit weird. Of course, I know there are plenty of 11 and 12 year olds in the state having sex already.

[pirtybirdy]

Yeah, it is kind of creepy. As you said though, kids are having sex younger and younger. This vaccine will prevent them catching the HPV virus, which is genital warts. This can lead to cervical cancer if the internal warts go cancerous. I suppose if it's a quick jab, it's well worth it to protect an unsuspecting person of getting such a terrible virus.

[eefanincan]

[Skylace]

[maycm]

Personally I would want my child to have the protection this vaccine offers, and sure, why not at 11 or 12? If it lasts for 10 years then at least it’s one less thing to worry about for whenever she becomes sexually active.

My only question on this is whether it is right to legislate such a thing. Is it mandatory in the U.S. to get vaccinations for any other disease?

Common sense tells most people that it is sensible to protect our children against such nasties as measles, mumps, polio, tetanus etc, but there are always a few who believe innoculations can result in undesired reactions or long term effects and refuse to have their kids vaccinated.

In Canada, I understand that no vaccinations are mandatory, though it may be that schools would question you long and hard before admitting a child who had the potential to infect others.

So one person's "common sense" is another persons "stupidity". Of course you recommend such vaccinations. Of course you make them freely available, but that should not take away the parents right to choose.

Just my 2 pennies.

[Lostinthestates]

You need to be vaccinated actually before you become sexually active as it becomes useless afterwards! And it is a good thing as anybody who is sexually active can catch this virus (even when using a condom). Approx. 70% of all sexually active people actually have this virus but nobody knows about it. It can (but might not) lead to cervical cancer which you definetly don't want. So in my view there is only positives!

[Skylace]

[eefanincan]

[girldorksrule]

I don't see that this vaccine is any different that the other ones they require students to get.

[maycm]

I see this story has reared again in the UK, with the government saying that girls of 12 and 13 are to be vaccinated, and same die hards saying it will promote early sexual activity.

I wonder what will happen when an HIV vaccine finally becomes available? Will the same people suggest that kids should not have it for the same reasons, or will everyone be lining up at the earliest opportunity?

[Mandy]

Actually, there is another thread on the the risks of vaccines.

I wonder how much mercury is in this new vaccine, and how that mercury may "overflow" a child's ability to absorb it.

[Marcella-FL]

Why not give the vaccine to males and females? Where do they think the females get it? There was a story here locally of a man who got throat cancer from HPV he picked up ... well you can complete the picture. The point is the females are not the only one at risk ...

[faceless]

On the news today I saw that by giving the girls the vaccine there is an 85% less chance that they'll develop the cancer. Giving it to boys also has an increased effect on that %, but they're not giving it to them - I'm not sure why.

[Skylace]

[eefanincan]