Through the Looking Glass: Sex is not a side effect of HPV vaccine
Providing for the health of children is not immoral — letting them die from cervical cancer is
By Sarah Delia, staff writer
Posted on February 12, 2007

Along with being known as one of the most conservative states in the country — having the highest number of deaths under capital punishment and a love for all things that have to do with cowboys or horses — Texas has now redeemed itself by becoming the pioneer of mandated Human Papillomavirus  shots in elementary schools. The HPV shot, which prevents cervical cancer, has been a controversial subject since this past summer, when the possibility of a vaccination for women began to receive attention. Now this dream advertised since last year has come true, as women from age 9 to 26 are eligible for a series of three shots preventing infection. Gardasil, the predominant drug in the shot, protects women from 70 percent of forms of the Human Papilloma Virus and up to 98 percent of genital warts contracted while engaging in sexual intercourse. It is estimated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, another state working to mandate the shot for young girls, that “more than 90 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV.” Although the shot can be taken by females who are sexually active as long as they have not yet received the virus, it is recommended by doctors that younger females get the shot long before raging hormones kick in — a practice that Texas has decided to mandate.

Rick Perry, governor of the Lone Star state, is the man responsible for the decision made about a week ago to require all sixth-grade girls to get the shot, and with good reason too — Texas is currently in second place with the highest number of women with cervical cancer. Last year, a total of 1,169 cases of the cancer were reported, as well as 400 deaths.

The mandate will be in effect for sixth-grade girls starting in the fall of 2008, prompting outcry from parents and religious groups claiming the shot will somehow promote promiscuity and pre-marital sex. The claim is made because the virus, which has a strong link to cancer, involves a sexually transmitted disease. But the goal of the vaccination is to reach young girls while they are exactly that — adolescents that are not typically sexually active. To say that the shot is promoting promiscuity is giving Gardasil too much credit, as it does not prevent AIDS, HIV, unwanted pregnancies and so many other risks still associated with every sexual encounter.

Children are required to get vaccinations for various kinds of diseases before being allowed into school, such as whooping cough, mumps, hepatitis and measles. Before JMU students are allowed to attend the university, it is mandated that we get inoculated for meningitis and other diseases, both contagious diseases with fatal statistics — like cervical cancer.

Although Gov. Perry mandated that all health officials require sixth-grade girls to get the HPV shot, parents are free to exclude their daughters from the shot. However, denying a young girl a shot that protects her from HPV and genital warts is like prohibiting her from getting a tetanus shot and hoping she doesn’t step on a rusty nail. The issue at hand is not one of religion or politics, but the health of young girls contracting a virus, a virus that often shows no symptoms. The gynecological visit required for detection is a visit often not taken until a female is 18, too late for the 16-year-old who contracted it. For those who feel this is a religious issue, drawing extremes to promiscuity and premarital sex, ask: what would Jesus do? My guess would be to prevent possible suffering.

Sarah Delia is a sophomore English and art history major.