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States Consider Federally Mandated HPV Vaccine For Teen Girls

By | January 18th, 2007 at 7:45 am

According to the Washington Post, the D.C. council is considering introducing a bill that would require all girls 13 and under to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.  Similar proposals are being introduced in California, Colorado and Kentucky. 

HPV causes cancer in approximately 10,000 American women annually, and kills about 3,700 according to the American Cancer Society.  It is a serious disease, no doubt, and now, a preventable one.  But reactions to the proposed mandate were mixed. 

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the vaccine for preteen girls, Dr. Joseph Bacchini, chairman of the academy’s committee on infectious diseases, says that it’s too early to make it mandatory.  “This is a new vaccine,” said Dr. Bachini.  “It would be wise to wait until we have additional information about the safety of the vaccine.”  But Stanley Gall, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says “I think this makes perfect sense.  There would certainly be a significant health benefit.”

I, for one, will run for the hills if the day comes that the
federal government tells me that I am legally obligated to vaccinate
myself and my daughters against HPV.  Why?  Well for one thing, it’s a
new vaccine.  Long term side effects are unknown.  And for another, I
think that the decision to vaccinate our children should be between
parents and doctors, not lawmakers and pharmaceutical companies.

How would you feel if this bill was passed in your state? 

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4 Responses to “States Consider Federally Mandated HPV Vaccine For Teen Girls”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Recently, Alisyn Cobb wrote about various states proposing bills that would make the new human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, a requirement for girls 13 and under . HPV is a virus that causes cervical cancer. However you feel about this highly-charged

  2. Anonymous says:

    Recently, Alisyn Cobb wrote about various states proposing bills that would make the new human papilloma

  3. CreativeTypeDad1 says:

    Nope, the government shouldn’t make it manditory.

  4. biologyfool says:

    I imagine it will be like every other mandated vaccination, you can sign the form that says it’s against your religion and get out of it without any problem.

    I wonder if they will keep the rule about your kid not being able to go to school if the disease that they aren’t vaccinated for is detected in the school?

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