Girls should get cancer vaccine: panel

Lady wrote:

This is disgusting. How dare the government decree that I inoculate my child against STD's. I think that if these shots are required for enrollment in public schools, many Christian parents will follow through on threats to pull their kids from public schools en masse. Forced indoctrination into Eastern religions, the gay agenda, graphic lessons based on sexuality, etc. aren't help the public schools' cause either.

while I share your exasperation with our federal government this is a voluntary program, nevertheless, the less government intervention the better. Could you fill me in on the "forced indoctrination to eastern religion" - thanks

Yes it is disgusting to think that we should have to inoculate our children against stds. We also don't live in the dark ages anymore. If there is a shot to prevent these diseases then it should be given. You can teach your children the right thing to do, they can come from the best of families, but that does not mean that they always do what they are suppose to. You can't be with them 24 hours a day. I do think that 11 years is a little young but it they do things at that age to.

Only very recently have humans started living to older ages. We used to die really young. So it was a good thing that the human sex drive was built into us while we were young and strong. We still have these drives built into us. Encourage abstinence all you want parents, but MANY of our kids WILL still have sex no matter what ludicrous religious fantasies you may have. We need to protect our children against cervical cancer the same way we protect them against polio. If not, will you unlucky parents who refused the vaccine, blame your child as she lays dying of cervical cancer because she, like you most likely did, gave in to her natural sexual urges before marriage? Or got the cancer from her husband's STD?
On the other hand, since religion is the one of the most dangerous forces ever created by humanity, perhaps it is a good thing that Christians and Muslims and whomever else, will refuse this vaccine. It would be really nice if these dangerous peoples work on selecting themselves out of humanity as quickly as possible by refusing the vaccine, by honor killings, by holy wars and all other means the religious have perpertrated atrocities. Bye Bye!!!

Could be another thalidomide.. they won't know for years.
Also, you're all ignoring the government comment above.
OK, a vacine maybe exists but to have it forced on people by the government is nothing less than intrusion. It's not about cancer.

Sparkay wrote:

Could be another thalidomide.. they won't know for years.
Also, you're all ignoring the government comment above.
OK, a vacine maybe exists but to have it forced on people by the government is nothing less than intrusion. It's not about cancer.

If one were to read the article, one would discover that the CDC (you know, the Center for Disease Control, the agency issuing the RECOMMENDATION) has no means to make vaccinations compulsory. And considering that thalidomide is a chemical teratogen and not a vaccination, there is very little likelihood that the HPV virus would create gross developmental abnormalities. Vaccines have been in routine use for over fifty years, and people are living longer lives, not shorter ones. Considering (again if one were to actually read the article)that HPV is the leading cause of the second most common cancer women are likely to die from, how exactly is this vaccine such a detriment? But hey, at least we wouldn't be promoting premarital sex, right? Because you know teens don't have any now...

I was so excited when I heard about this vaccine. I am a survivor of Type III cervical cancer due to HPV. I neglected to get a pap smear for a few years and by the time I was examined my doctor told me if I had waited six more months I would have been beyond help and would have died.

However, after following the issue closely I have realized that what Merck has created is NOT the great cure and hope I longed for. It is important for parents and young women to know ALL THE FACTS.

This vaccine does NOT replace the need for young women to have regular pap smears. Althought thalidomide is not a vaccine, Sparkay raises a valid point. This vaccine is being rushed to the market and it's just a FACT that severe side effects take time to show up and not everyone is the same or reacts the same to medicine and vaccines.

Should we trust a company that stands to gain over $3 billion dollars off this vaccine? I bet there are a lot of Vioxx users who would advise us otherwise.

Everyone who is interested in this topic and vaccine should hear the other side of the story (Merck's Gardasil Vaccine Not Proven Safe for Little Girls - National Vaccine Information): Merck's Gardasil Vaccine Not Proven Safe for Little Girls - http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl...

There is also an article that suggests that condoms can protect women against cervical cancer as well:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...

Again, I was so hopeful about this because I didn't want other young women to endure what I did - the prospect of death and leaving behind my child at such an early age, two surgeries, and over a year of pain. My husband gave me HPV...it's not about having sex early or multiple partners necessarily, and it's also not about people putting blind faith into a company with financial interest and a government that is acting rash about the health of young women. Educate yourself on the issue COMPLETELY. That's all I'm saying.

A vaccine should be developed that spands across the sexes, not just to the girls, ie. polio vaccines etc.. This girl-only vaccine is rather scary in my mind, and causes a knee-jerk reaction in me to think this vaccine places young girls entire biological beings in the hands of pharmaceutical companies. Do not give your girls away as test subjects too quickly, instead, teach them, educate them. And while you're at it, educate the sons, the potential carriers of not just this virus but numerous STD's. I also ask, where are the young girls rights to refuse such a vaccine?

yes - the only issue surrounding this vaccine should be safety - not religion, not sex. 5 woman in the trials gave birth to babies with birth defects. 19 people developed arthritis. Are you certain this was coincidence?

Yes, DES was a disaster. No, it was not a vaccine. Which makes the potential devastation of Gardasil even greater. DES was only given to some pregnant women. We are talking about vaccinating every 9 year girl in America with Gardasil. Every one - and anyone who doesn't realize this vaccine isn't going to be mandatory for school entrance - doesn't understand how vaccines become required.
Demand long term studies!

And also realize that cervical cancer is a RARE disease in the United States. This is why the studies all site 'world' statistics. The women most likely to 'benefit' from this vaccine are the women that need the protection least. How soon do you think this expensive vaccine will reach third world countries? It about money from any angle.

Protect your daughters. Do your research. When Merckk PROVES this vaccine is safe - then run out and get it. Until then, homeschool if you need to.

ptchaw wrote:

Yes it is disgusting to think that we should have to inoculate our children against stds. We also don't live in the dark ages anymore. If there is a shot to prevent these diseases then it should be given. You can teach your children the right thing to do, they can come from the best of families, but that does not mean that they always do what they are suppose to. You can't be with them 24 hours a day. I do think that 11 years is a little young but it they do things at that age to.

A friend of mine had cervical cancer and told me she'd had venereal warts many years ago. I also had had venereal warts. We were young and had no idea these things existed or that our relationships were unsafe; sometimes people can be very deceptive about the lives they lead. It is difficult to have to educate your daughter but I have because she is going away to college. I've tried not to warp her for life but she needs to know what kind of trouble is out there. Not all strains of venereal warts cause cervical cancer, but if there is a vaccine to prevent them and cancer I think it's a very good idea to vaccinate our daughters, as well as educate them. Some people here have even gotten them from their husbands and never had a thought that could be the case - I know I didn't.