Vaccination For Hpv And Cervial Cancer: Will Parents Make The Right Choice?
...(HPV) is reported by health professionals as the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States . According to the American Social Health Association, there are about 5.5 million newly reported cases of HPV infections per year, although it is believed to be 6.2 million new infections total. At least 50 percent of sexually active Americans contract a type of HPV at some point in their lives. By the time women hit the age 50, at least 80 percent of them have been infected with some type of HPV. Most women will get rid of the virus on their own, but other women are not so lucky. There is a prediction that 11,070 women will develop cervical cancer in this year alone. The women who do their recommended annual pap smear have a high chance of being safe. If diagnosed with cervical cancer, these women may have time for treatment to fight the cancer off. Many women do not get their annual check up though. 70 percent of cervical cancer diagnoses develop because of HPV. If a woman contracts HPV, it could quickly mutate into cancer, which may result in death if not treated quickly. There are at least 20 million people in the United States that are infected with this virus, but most of them don’t even know it. With these statistics climbing every year by the millions, something needed to be done. In June 2006, an HPV vaccination called Gardasil was approved by the FDA and introduced to the world. Since Gardasil has surfaced, there has been much controversy over whether or not certain states should pass a bill requiring pre-adolescent vaccinations, since a child is too young to make that choice for herself, her future relies on the decision of her parents. This assumes that they are educated about the benefits and are willing to put their personal morals or other beliefs aside.
Political authorities have decided to take the...
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