The Politics of Disease
I find it interesting that now that someone has developed a vaccine for one or more of the many strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), suddenly it is a problem that requires the attention of all parents to get their daughters vaccinated as young as nine years old.
I warned family members and friends that HPV was a serious problem long before the vaccine was developed. HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women and can also cause genital warts. Most importantly, it is transmitted skin to skin and is not stopped by condoms - the area of transmission is reduced but not eliminated unless you are wearing a condom that covers your entire torso and thighs. While not anywhere near as deadly as AIDS it is far more prevelant, and it can kill - hundreds of young women die each year from cervical cancer - this could have been avoided by regular testing and early treatment - or better yet, abstaining from sex until ready for committment.
The Vaccine is a great idea, but it only treats some strains, not all of them (not all cause cancer). HPV because it is associated with genital warts, there is a risk of it becoming a gateway disease like Genital Herpes. Herpes is not a life threatening disease at all (mostly just embarrassing and annoying), and like HPV is also transmitted skin to skin. But, Herpes causes lesions that can leave the body vulnerable to other diseases. HIV (which can lead to AIDS) is also transmitted skin to skin and if lesions are present, then the process is much easier and condoms are not going to be very useful.
My concern is that while vaccines are not a bad thing, there is a danger that girls who are vaccinated against this sexually transmitted disease (or at least certain strains of it) are going to think that they are safe and be less careful in their choices and sexual practices.
I have a daughter and when she is old enough, I will not be taking her to get vaccinated. I will instead be educating her on the important matters concerning her sexuality. I will be stressing the purpose of sex and the responsibilities that go with it. In time, I will let her know what is out there and what she needs to know to make her own informed choices. In time, she may want to get vaccinated and that will be fine with me. I hope to raise my daughter and my sons to be responsible human beings, but I cannot speak for their eventual partners.
I warned family members and friends that HPV was a serious problem long before the vaccine was developed. HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women and can also cause genital warts. Most importantly, it is transmitted skin to skin and is not stopped by condoms - the area of transmission is reduced but not eliminated unless you are wearing a condom that covers your entire torso and thighs. While not anywhere near as deadly as AIDS it is far more prevelant, and it can kill - hundreds of young women die each year from cervical cancer - this could have been avoided by regular testing and early treatment - or better yet, abstaining from sex until ready for committment.
The Vaccine is a great idea, but it only treats some strains, not all of them (not all cause cancer). HPV because it is associated with genital warts, there is a risk of it becoming a gateway disease like Genital Herpes. Herpes is not a life threatening disease at all (mostly just embarrassing and annoying), and like HPV is also transmitted skin to skin. But, Herpes causes lesions that can leave the body vulnerable to other diseases. HIV (which can lead to AIDS) is also transmitted skin to skin and if lesions are present, then the process is much easier and condoms are not going to be very useful.
My concern is that while vaccines are not a bad thing, there is a danger that girls who are vaccinated against this sexually transmitted disease (or at least certain strains of it) are going to think that they are safe and be less careful in their choices and sexual practices.
I have a daughter and when she is old enough, I will not be taking her to get vaccinated. I will instead be educating her on the important matters concerning her sexuality. I will be stressing the purpose of sex and the responsibilities that go with it. In time, I will let her know what is out there and what she needs to know to make her own informed choices. In time, she may want to get vaccinated and that will be fine with me. I hope to raise my daughter and my sons to be responsible human beings, but I cannot speak for their eventual partners.
posted by Faith | 10/13/2007 11:24:00 AM
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