We’ve all seen the ads: a variety of different women, all talking, ever so seriously, about Pap smears and how that’s enough to protect you from cervical cancer, right?
Wrong.
All women should get tested for HPV, the human papillomavirus, the ad says, which can cause cervical cancer in women. Now, as many as 20 states are taking action to consider the mandatory inoculation of young girls against the sexually-transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.
But should all states be jumping of the bandwagon so soon? There has been major backlash from health experts around the country who claim that the proponents, including the vaccine’s producer, Merck, have pushed this on us too fast.
Many religious and cultural conservatives claim that mandatory use of the vaccine could encourage sexual activity in young girls. But that’s not all. Even those who support the vaccine disapprove of the ridiculously expensive price – around $400 – for a mere three-shot course.
According to a Feb. 17 article in The New York Times, Dr. Joseph A. Bocchini, the chairman of the committee on infectious diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics, had a few things to say on the matter: “The decision to make this mandatory this early has created a significant controversy over things that have nothing to do with the vaccine.”
Like many public health experts, Bocchini advocates the vaccine but doesn’t agree with the rush toward mandatory inoculation. The proposal would call for all girls to be vaccinated before entering the sixth grade.
All of this seems a bit sudden, and when you take a closer look into the history of new vaccines being introduced to society, this is definitely out of the ordinary and a bit suspicious. “Generally, the mandates have been enacted over years,” said Dr. Janet R. Gilsdorf, the director of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Michigan.
Another vaccine against cervical cancer is Gardasil, which was approved just last June. Gardasil is also manufactured by Merck and is said to be aimed at HPV. Analysts see a potential $5 billion a year for Merck if Gardasil is made mandatory to all young girls.
Something smells a bit fishy here. Major pharmaceutical companies benefiting off young girls, terrified of getting cervical cancer? That doesn’t seem right. And why the sudden urgency to get us all vaccinated?
Many politicians are receiving funding from pharmaceutical companies and are therefore promoting them to the public.
Many people think it’s not such a good idea. “It’s a very messy thing to be promoting right now,” said Fran Eaton, editor of a conservative blog in Illinois.” If you’re a conservative, you’re going to be worried about parental rights. If you’re a liberal, you’re worried that the pharmaceutical companies are taking over the United States.”
Eaton is right. In any case, everybody’s worried. Why do these scandals always have to happen? Why can’t a pharmaceutical company create a vaccine when it’s needed, distribute to those in need, and be done with it? Why all this talk of morality and religious views and suspicious politicians?
What does any of this have to do with saving people’s lives? That’s the point of a vaccine, isn’t it? To help young women fight off a deadly cancer.
So let’s do it: Get the vaccine out to women who need it and forget about the rest.