HPV does NOT kill. It's a virus. Like a cold virus. The difference is that HPV is ONLY transmitted by sexual intercourse. Neither virus is deadly. Having HPV does NOT mean a women will get cervical cancer. Having the HPV vaccine does not prevent one from cervical cancer. It reduces the chances of acquiring HPV through unprotected sexual intercourse (or even protected sexual intercourse since condoms are not foolproof and don't cover all areas). The vaccine is not 100% effective; it has a failure rate. Getting the vaccine should not led anyone to believe that HPV is no longer an issue.
Additionally, the vaccine is effective on only four types of HPV, only two of which are potentially cancer-related. There are over 100 types of HPV and between 10-30% of those (as far as they know) have the possibility (not certainty) of causing cancer. Getting the vaccine is absolutely no assurance at all that one will not get HPV or cervical cancer.The vaccine is known to be effective for 4 years. That's right... FOUR YEARS. After that, it's a crap shoot. No one knows how long it may or may not last. Perry is not pushing for funding or research on how to stop boys from spreading HPV to girls.
The program as described thus far does not mention education, only vaccination. So, for those girls who do engage in unprotected sexual intercourse, having the vaccine without proper education could make one think she is protected against any sexually transmitted disease which is simply not true or that there's no way she'll get HPV or that there's no reason for regular pap smears since she's had the vaccine. Even the CDC tells men not to worry about having HPV even though the CDC mentions in passing that men are the ones who pass it on to women through unprotected sexual intercourse. How's that for a slap in the face to all women?HPV is not a huge public health risk like many proclaim. It is a very small risk. It's a very common STD, so common that most people who have it don't know it. So common that men are told quite literally by the CDC not to worry about it. (By the way, twice as many people in the US have the herpes virus than have HPV.) Cervical cancer kills fewer than 4000 women each year. Not all cases are caused by HPV. Lung cancer attributed to cigarette smoking kills 100 times that many people annually.... where's the mandate for everyone to stop smoking? The flu virus kills about 35,000 people each year... where's the mandate that everyone be vaccinated? Heart disease kills about 500,000 women each year; it is the #1 cause of death in women over age 35. Where's the push for mandatory exercise and weight control?
Additionally, the vaccine is too new. There haven't been enough long-term studies on efficacy and morbidity. It's just too risky.The best way to deal with this issue is education education education. Knowledge is far more powerful than any vaccine. And as evidenced on this thread alone, most people really don't know much about HPV or cervical cancer at all. There's a lot of conjecture and old wives' tales being spread around.
This stinks to high heaven of money in someone's back pocket and nothing more.
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When I heard about the vaccine being mandated my first thought was that it was a good idea. Then I was informed about the connections between Perry and Merck. My thoughts have changed. I would think the governor would research issues before issuing executive orders. Apparently that doesn't happen. By the way, I didn't put him into office. The reason I thought it was a good idea is because I had a scare last year with cervical cancer and HPV. I am 42 and have always had normal pap smears. The last one came up abnormal and they said I have the HPV virus of the high risk kind in the very early stages of cancer and "we need to watch it closely". I was extremely upset. I have been very healthy. I have been manogamous for 5 years and married and manogamous for 12 years before that. My doctor said that I could have gotten it before I was married years ago. (a few partners before marriage) Who knows where I got it. You can't always trace it back to its inception. Once you get the virus it doesn't turn to cancer immediately. It can lay dormant for years. Yes, women can get it and spread it to men and then they can spread it to other women. That is why millions have it and don't know it. This is why education of our youngsters is vital to minimizing the spread of HPV. I will have a pap smear every 6 months instead of annually to see if things are better. The most important thing about knowing you have the virus is getting tested regularly and treating it accordingly. Pap smears are essential. Early detection can literally save your life. When told I might have cervical cancer all I could think about was 20 years ago my best friend had it and had to have a hysterectomy and underwent many procedures before that to get rid of it. She never could have children and still has side effects from radiation. I have children and don't wish to have anymore. I am one of the lucky ones. My daughter is 16 and when I have furthered my research on the vaccine, I will decide if she needs to get it. My thoughts are at this time that she needs it before she becomes sexually active. If we could hold off teens from having sex until they get married, that would be great. However, reality is that most teens are not going to wait. I don't think government should tell us to vaccinate our daughters, but I hope this discussion opens the eyes of many on the subject. And don't forget, kids are having sex as early as the 6th grade. Parents who don't believe this need to get out more. Get out of your adult world and talk to your kids and get to know their friends and what they are doing. You will be amazed at the positive influence you will have on your kids when they know you care.
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