Vaccine for cervical cancer?

Question

I seem to recall just recently hearing a news report about a vaccine for cervical cancer that legislators in Texas is trying to pass or have already passed a law for females ages 13 and up to have to take this vaccine.If anyone knows of this story, please let me know if I am right and or where I am wrong.

Answer 1

Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an *executive order* on February 2, 2007 mandating the vaccine be given to all school girls coming into 6th grade starting in September 2008. An executive order is not a law but rather a recommendation.

But it's still screwed up, yes. The vaccine doesn't prevent all strains of cervical cancer, just four of them (out of 16 - so 25% of them).

It's also important to note that only 1% of women who do not get regular pap smears get cervical cancer from any strain of HPV. Women who do get regular pap smears have a significantly lower chance because it is detected earlier.

Lastly, the vaccine's long-term effects have NOT been studied AT ALL due to its newness.

Answer 2

The vaccine is to prevent the contraction of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is one of the most common STD's out there. It exists in many forms, and many of those can lead to cervical cancer if not caught by a pap smear and treated. The vaccine prevents the spread of the virus, and not the cancer itself.

Legally this immunization is no different than the ones for Mumps, Measels, Chicken Pox, etc. since HPV can be easily transferred through bodily fluid contact. Only the administration at a later age is different from the normal childhood vaccines. Many colleges now require or strongly suggest that freshman get a menigitis vaccine because it is contagious. HPV occurs at higher rates in college females than meningitis. Having had a pre-cancer scare with HPV, that I contracted when doing health care for patients, I think that this vaccine is a great idea. I wish it had been around a few years ago to save me a lot of fear and money.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/cervical-cancer-vaccine1102

Answer 3

omfg.

To correct all the incorrect statements in previous answers:

They are *not* making it mandatory in Texas... the Governor tried to tie vaccination or opting-out to public school attendance, but the state House bonged it, and the state Senate is likely to do the same. New Hampshire may be another situation.

There *is* a vaccine available that protects against the most dangerous strains of HPV (the ones that cause cervical cancer). It is called Gardasil. Other commercial vaccines should be on the market soon.

It DOES NOT cause cervical cancer. It works to prevent it.

Most of us already must get certain vaccines to attend school (I just recently had to update my tetanus booster to continue in grad school). This is exactly the same thing.

Answer 4

This is a vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. If all girls/women are vaccinated in 30 years cervical cancer and HPV will be gone. Why would you want to have a diseaes around that could so easily be prevented? Do you think that women that contract the HPV virus deserve to die? This will prevent thousands of deaths from cervical cancer. We have to take all sorts of vaccines for school. What if nobody ever got vaccinated for measles or polio? Why should we be vaccinated for some common diseases and not others?
The people that say it will encourage pre-marital sex are idiotic. Does being vaccinated against tetanus encourage jumping on rusty nails? Does the hepititus vaccine promote drinking dirty water in 3rd world countries? Does the yellow fever vaccine promote playing with misquitos?
Maybe when one of their loved ones dies from cervical cancer that could have been prevented with a shot, they'll open their eyes.
Now what about the women/girls that will be infected with HPV from being raped. Do they deserve cancer?
Some women will even be infected by their husbands. Believe it or not, not all men are faithful. You can still get it even if your husband is the only person that you have ever had sex with. If all females are vaccinated, thousands of lifes will be saved! I don't know how people can call themselves pro-life and think it's OK for women to die from a preventable disease.

Answer 5

yes, there is a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. its called gardasil. and texas just passed a law requiring all 6th grade girls to be vaccinated (though its being appealed). though this vaccine could be life saving, a lot of parents have issues about it being required, which is natually understandable. however, if it prevents cancer, wouldnt u want to get the vaccine? i know i would. but id have to say im def pro-choice on the issue. its a civil rights type deal i guess.

Answer 6

Yes they have a vaccine for the virus that can cause cervical cancer. I would take it.

Answer 7

This vaccine is fresh on the market and who knows what will come of it later on....we are probably just lab rats being tested on....they will only figure out in 10 years that the vaccine leads to other problems!

Answer 8

Yes, this is true. I think it is appalling. Its a vaccine for the human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer. I'm glad I'm old enough not to have to take it. I agree with yourother answerer that it should be the girl and her parents' right to refuse if they want to.

Answer 9

Yes I've heard of a mandatory HVS vaccine. While I'm sure it will help many young women, I think parents should able to make the decision

Answer 10

yes they have and they want to give it to all but can you beliefe thre are people that want to fight it like lets use our rights to have it or not? well let me tell you if i had a little girl she would get it you dont' win with this cancer it kills and if there is cure for it vaccine then why not? why are they saying no some of them. stupid yes. they should be lining up for this shot but not here in texas they are retarded. my granddaughtes will all have it and if its ok for me i will also take it to. man that is bad cancer and it kills just killed a really good friend of mine here in la coste tx.