Bill would require students to get shots to protect against STD

[hippiechick]

[]i[]b]REQUIRE?? I agree that this vaccination is a VERY good thing, but REQUIRE ?
And again, no responsibility for dudes to use condoms or keep their peckers in their pants.
None. Zip. Nada.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/LOCAL190102/701180404

Senators: Vaccinate girls against cancer virus
By Staci Hupp


Indiana girls would be vaccinated against one of the nation's most common sexually transmitted diseases if a proposal endorsed by all 13 women in the state Senate prevails.

Vaccinations against human papilloma virus, or HPV, has a groundswell of support among school nurses and state health officials, although critics say it could give children the green light to have sex.
Senate Bill 327 would require HPV vaccines in girls before the start of sixth grade. A vaccine approved last year by the Food and Drug Administration wards off some strains of HPV, which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

Indiana children must get booster shots for diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella before middle school, so the proposal's backers say it makes sense to add the HPV vaccine to that age group. But schools wouldn't be forced to turn away girls who aren't vaccinated against HPV, as they do for other required shots.

... more at link ...

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. HPV is a very nasty virus and it's powerful too

Easily spread, hard to kill. Causes CANCER. Unless you're against all vaccines, why pick this one out for vilification?

As for guys keeping their peckers in their pants, that doesn't work and you probably know that already. Abstinence education is a total flop, and few youngsters (sex at 12-13 is common nowadays) have condom access anyway.

So one can eliminate cervical cancer from young women with this vaccine, and perhaps even eradicate the virus with it. Sounds like it's a good thing if you ask me. However, I think they should vaccinate boys too. HPV is common in sexually active males too, and it can also be present in the penises and/or anuses of boys who have had sex with an infected person, whether they had anal sex or not. Fingers can spread this virus easily.

"Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year."

http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm

Provided the vaccine is safe, and does not contain mercury or other possible pathogens, I'm all for it.

[hippiechick]

2. I understand that, having HPV myself.

But I don't approve of a BILL that would FORCE my 15 year-old daughter to get the vaccine.

Legislators need to stay the hell out of my doctor's office. Peiod.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. I don't like the intrusion either

Having said that, if not for government vaccination programs, we would still have diphtheria, polio, TB, etc.

I don't like the government in doctor's offices either, or in this case, the schools, so it's kind of a double-edged sword. I only think it's worth the intrusion if it eradicates a very important disease for mankind, and in this case, I can see the benefits, particularly since we already have forced vaccinations and this is just one more added to the list. I would not support a compulsory vaccine for anything less than a life threatening disease, though.

[Jokerman]

4. Just how well tested is this anyway?

Based on the FDA's poor record of forcing drugs through approval before the long term testing results are in, I am doubtful that this drug has been thoroughly tested for its long term effects.
Hypothetical: So we force these girls to get the shot now, and when thousands of them develop symptoms and side effects down the road, they form a class action lawsuit suing both the manufacturer AND the government (read: us).

While I want to be hopeful that this is indeed a good thing, I am highly skeptical in the ability of the FDA to protect us from bad drugs. Their track record sucks in this regard. And the pressure the manufacturers put on them to rapidly approve their next blockbuster drug is frightening.

Skeptical? Yes, as I work for a team of defense litigators who defend these types of cases. (yeah, I know - I gotta get a new job) I've seen this happen too many times for comfort. Once you make the vaccination mandatory, you make the government a liable party to the class action suits that are sure to come.

Since when does the government know what's best for us, anyway?

One final thought - has anyone looked into it further to see just what relationships (unholy alliances) this drug company has with the current administration? Who owns the stock? Who sits on the board? Who have their lobbyists given money to to fast-track legislation on this?

EDITORIAL NOTE: I (Speedway Democrat) accidentally posted this under Jokerman's label. This is my opinion only, and does not reflect Jokerman's opinions (sorry, honey!)

[hippiechick]

5. ding ding ding !!

:applause: Jokerman/Speedway Democrat get the cookie of the day, for asking all the right questions!! (Or should that be 2 cookies?)


:hi:

[Jokerman]

6. I'll take a cookie!

Even though I had nothing to do with the above post.

Who is this SpeedwayDemocrat anyway and why is she posting as me?

Gotta get that girl a star.

- The Real Jokerman

[ls317]

7. Who makes the vaccine???

Wondering does Lilly have anything to with it?????