OPINION & EDITORIAL
HPV shot mandate vital
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by Emily Friedman
Thursday, February 8, 2007
If you ask me, it's about time a Texas Republican set a good example for the rest of the country.
In fact, one has: Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
Perry, who was described in a recent article by The Associated Press as a "conservative Christian who opposes abortion and stem-cell research using embryonic cells," ruffled the feathers of conservatives when he used an executive order to require school-age girls to get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. Also known as HPV, the infection is a cause of cervical cancer. In addition, Perry has campaigned for free vaccines and more inclusive health-care coverage for the injection, making certain that anyone who wants the vaccination — and those who are now required to get it — have access to the vaccines with little or no cost at all.
The vaccination has come under fire by many conservatives, especially by those who are extremely religious. Because HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, many argue that vaccinating girls at such a young age will give them a false sense of security and will encourage them to act promiscuously and become sexually active at a younger age. Further, many say the number of unwanted pregnancies — and, consequentially, abortions — will soar when young women feel invincible after receiving the vaccine.
In addition to these concerns, many citizens decry a mandate requiring a vaccination as an intrusion by the government into the way a family raises its children. These people argue that the HPV shot is still available for those who want it — the FDA approved the vaccination back in November — and the government has no place lecturing parents on their child's health care. In Perry's case, the issue is even more complicated: Because he used an executive order — rather than letting the Legislature decide the future of the proposal — he's fielding additional criticism for going to extra lengths to ensure the vaccination became a requirement. In short, Perry is being accused of stepping too far into the lives of his constituents without allowing the Legislature to chime in. These criticisms seem unfounded when considering the danger of the infection, as well as the fact that there is some leeway for parents to choose to opt out of the vaccine for religious reasons.
No matter how loud the critics whine, it's hard not to admire both Perry's decision and his reasons for making it. Since the story broke, he has continually been quoted citing relevant and well-founded reasons for using the executive order and has proved that this is not something he did merely to assert his authority, but rather has shown he genuinely believes this is a sensible health initiative. For example, in a Feb. 7 article in the Dallas Morning News, he brushed the critics aside and asserted he'd rather "err on the side of protecting life." In an article by The Associated Press, Perry pointed out that the HPV vaccine is no different than a vaccine to prevent polio.
He's got a point: Just as the polio vaccination defeated that disease, the HPV shot could do the same. HPV is spreading rapidly among both men and women. According to the Center Disease Control and Prevention, at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will contract HPV during their lifetimes. For women in particular, by age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have been infected with HPV.
So what does Wisconsin have to learn from Texas? Perhaps for the first time ever, a lot. According to The Associated Press, a proposal echoing the Texas decision — it will require sixth-grade girls to receive the HPV vaccination before entering school — will come before both the state Senate and Assembly, and then perhaps will land on Gov. Jim Doyle's desk. And, speaking of Mr. Doyle, it is surprising and disappointing that he has yet to weigh in on the topic, given that he spoke so strongly during his State of the State Address about making improvements to children's health care.
It is time for both Republicans and Democrats to realize what Perry already has: HPV and cervical cancer are issues that must be dealt with immediately. Gov. Doyle especially should remind himself of the promises he made to constituents just a few weeks ago and not shy away from helping Wisconsin be as farsighted as Texas and its conservative Republican governor.
Emily Friedman (efriedman@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and legal studies.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 7:42am):
Who would have ever thought that pro-life also means pro-cancer? I suppose all tumors have the right to metastasize.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 9:03am):
Well ya know, you can't get HPV if you save yourself until marriage. Especially if you marry a good Christian boy, because that automatically means that he has neither a sketchy past or STDs. Besides, protecting girls against certain types of cancer in their dirty parts is the same thing as telling them, "go out on the street and have as much sex as you can, you little slut."
Let's ban all birth control, enforce abstinence, and bring back the witch trials.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 11:47am):
"HPV is spreading rapidly among both men and women."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never met a man with a cervix. HPV in men is about as unimportant as the appendix.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 1:54pm):
Anon 11:47, have you ever heard of genital warts? That's what can happen when a man gets HPV.
And don't forget that men with HPV can give it to women they sleep with, even if they don't have any symptoms.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 2:27pm):
11:47, HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. If men have it, men can spread it.
If men "spread it," men can spread it.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 6:35pm):
Take a look at his the governors financial reasons. Merck (the company producing the vaccine) is a major contributor to his re-election campaign among many other ties to his administration. Apparently the only thing that trumps his conservative morals is his greed.
Anonymous (February 9, 2007 @ 12:26pm):
I recently got the HPV vaccine and I think its wonderful. But there are definite barriers that come along with it however. Men get HPV and are at risk for penile cancer too, why are we only pushing it among girls? Girls have sex with girls, and men with men so if the reason is to target one sex and push a "barrier" to transmission, it's not going to happen. And another major issue is that Merck is the only manufacturer so it is ungodly expensive! 3 doses at $122 makes it hard for many people to get it.
Anonymous (February 17, 2007 @ 9:12am):
Excellent article Emily! Lets hope this important vaccine is put on the list for required vaccinations so government funding will allow every one to be able to get the shots. Perhaps schools can administer the vaccinations on site at the start of 6th grade like they gave the Hepatitis B vaccine to us at school. At least when a parent takes their child for their pre-adolescent visit, they'll get the HPV shot along with their Tdap and Meningitis shots. Susan
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