Merck Lobbies for HPV Vaccine to Become Law

[JohnRM]

Not hypocritical.

You don't have the right to be on a school campus without shots against meningitis, etc. Why? Because these diseases are contagious. Every person who's not vaccinated is a loophole diseases can exploit.

The problem with that is that you are required, by law, to attend school. Therefor, it is not a choice of just going to school or not.

It's a public health issue, not a personal medical issue. By not vaccinating yourself you are endangering the health of other people.

I don't see it as that much of a danger. Not enough to warrant the forced insertion of chemicals into one's body.

I don't have a right to walk around the streets with **** smeared on my face = ZOMG THEY ARE RESTRICKTING MY PURSONAL FREDUMS naaaah.

Actually, if I am correct about the word you were intending to use, you do have the right to walk around like that. Farmers do it all of the time around here.

Now, is HPV contagious enough to require vaccination? That's a different issue.

Then what the hell are we talking about?! I just said that it should not be mandatory and you're asking me just as much.

 

[JohnRM]

This may rank as the most foolish thing you've ever said in your lifetime. I will tell you why.

Are you offended at vaccinations for measles, chickenpox or diphtheria? No? Then you should have no objection to one more.

As far as I know, there is no vaccine for chickenpox. Diptheria is a highly infectious disease that is an immediate threat to the greater population.

Measles is another highly infectous disease that is an immediate threat to the greater population.

HPV is not highly infectious. One can avoid becoming infected through means other than recieving the vaccine.

This whole notion of a vaccine encouraging sexual promiscuity is ridiculous. It's as good as suggesting that if I give someone a gun, they will be tempted to kill someone. Also, you don't have to tell the little girls why they're getting a shot. Only their parents have to know.

Again, I have been reading through this thread and I have not seen a single person use this argument, yet. I certainly have not. My challenge to produce the post, where I used that argument, still stands.

 

[El_Machinae]

I read an article on the chickenpox vaccine; it's partially suspected as a reason why shingles is appearing in younger adults (since the kids aren't getting as much exposure to the disease).

I think parents would be wise to invest in this vaccine for their daughters (I just might, in a couple years, when the data are better). There will be trickle-down benefits to the non-vaccinated if the vaccine slows the spread of HPV.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

"say [that] such a requirement would encourage premarital sex"

Second paragraph of the original article. You there, stop misrepresenting it, and you there, stop dodging it, and you on the sidelines, stop grinning smugly at both sides.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

He's not saying the argument hasn't been made, just that no one in the thread made it.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

I specifically avoided mentioning names or laying the blame on a specific side.

 

[.Shane.]

Just another development in the long line of reductions in our personal freedom.

Interesting take and I think it shows the difference in how some people see this issue.

My opposition is more from the standpoint of hating powerful corporations that choose to dictate to us how to live simply so they can enrich themselves.

Do we legally require other vaccinations? In a de facto sense, yes, in that kids are required to have them to go to public schools. However, I'm sure there are private schools that may not require them.

However, this is not a communicable disease or one that can be eradicated through vaccination of the population, so I don't think making it mandatory is appropriate.

 

[RedWolf]

Now, is HPV contagious enough to require vaccination? That's a different issue.

I think thats the issue for me - I generally support mandatory vaccinations because other children have a right to not be at risk for diseases you might be carrying around.

But HPV - if you have it you're not generally putting other people at risk. If they choose to have unprotected sexual contact with you they're putting themselves at risk.

 

[RedWolf]

Edit: guys cervical cancer is one of the world's worst killers, that's why our poor better halves have to go through the ordeal of smear tests. "In 2006, an estimated 10,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with this type of cancer and nearly 4,000 will die from it." wiki.

The interesting thing about cervical cancer is that it's almost completely curable when caught in the early stages by regular pap smears.

Unfortunately in the US many women forego such tests because of the costs involved.

 

[RedWolf]

How old can one be before they're too old to get the vaccine? If teenage volunteers get the vaccine, then they'll handily reduce the infection rates/penetration of this virus.

I heard today on the radio.. It's not about being "too old".. It's just once you get one of the strains the vaccinne will obviously no longer protect you against that strain... and HPV is so incredibly common that most women will aquire one of those strains at some point in their life. So it's just an odds game - the sooner you get the vaccine, the more protection you're going to get from it.

 

[El_Machinae]

Ah, then presexual teens can choose to get the vaccine; similar to how the girls can choose to get the pill.

 

[skadistic]

The biggest problem I see is that people think since its an STD it shouldn't be manditory for children yet if you wait till a sexualy active age (per sociatal norms) its to late. Not being manditory will affect the poor more. Poor people will have higher rates of not only HPV but a few forms of cancer that could have been niped in the bud.

Do you hate poor people?

 

[JohnRM]

The biggest problem I see is that people think since its an STD it shouldn't be manditory for children yet if you wait till a sexualy active age (per sociatal norms) its to late. Not being manditory will affect the poor more. Poor people will have higher rates of not only HPV but a few forms of cancer that could have been niped in the bud.

Do you hate poor people?

What is wrong with making it mandatory for the government to make it available, free of cost, to all citizens who volunteer for vaccination? Poor people saved. Freedom preserved. Amen.

 

[.Shane.]

What is wrong with making it mandatory for the government to make it available, free of cost, to all citizens who volunteer for vaccination? Poor people saved. Freedom preserved. Amen.

I'm guessing you're also against mandatory seatbelt and helmet laws?

 

[skadistic]

I'm guessing you're also against mandatory seatbelt and helmet laws?

I am. If your dumb enuff to drive/ride with out protection you deserve what ever head trauma you get. You don't deserve HPV and cancer for trying to make babies.

 

[JohnRM]

I'm guessing you're also against mandatory seatbelt and helmet laws?

I certainly am, although I would never ride an automobile without a seatbelt.
I would never ride a motorcycle. <--- Period

However, on the other side of the coin, I do not believe that medical insurance should have to cover anything other than life-saving treatment in the event that one is injured during an accident without a seatbelt or helmet in the corresponding vehicle accident types.

 

[RedWolf]

What is wrong with making it mandatory for the government to make it available, free of cost, to all citizens who volunteer for vaccination? Poor people saved. Freedom preserved. Amen.

Exactly - same way the flu shot is available here. If you want it - it's free.

 

[woody60707]

Ah, then presexual teens can choose to get the vaccine; similar to how the girls can choose to get the pill.

Yes, any girl can get/pay for one. It's the whole forcing girls to do X(HPV shot) to attend public school when there is no danger by X(HPV) to any other student also attending school at the same time.

The biggest problem I see is that people think since its an STD it shouldn't be manditory for children yet if you wait till a sexualy active age (per sociatal norms) its to late. Not being manditory will affect the poor more. Poor people will have higher rates of not only HPV but a few forms of cancer that could have been niped in the bud.

Do you hate poor people?

Was this last line a joke or jab at someone? This has nothing to do with the fact that it's a STD, at least for me. This had to do with the fact that unlike every other infection that kids need to get a shot/vaccine before attending school, their have been no cases (AFAIK) of anyone one getting HPV during class in school.

Can you name any other shot/vaccine/meds ect for any type of illness that kids are forced to take to attend a public school, that when in a normal classroom environment in no way pose a health risk to other students in the classroom?

I'm guessing you're also against mandatory seatbelt and helmet laws?

Seatbelt, no. Helmet laws, yes. When you don't have a seatbelt on, and you lose control of your vehicular, you need to use the wheel to secure your self in the set, what takes away from being fully in control of your vehicular. So a seatbelt is a reasonable means employed by the driver to ensure control of the vehicular at all times. A helmet has no effect on the control of a motorcycle. It's only use is the personal safety of the biker. personal safety falls under personal choice.


I know i asked skadistic this in my reply to his comments, but i would like to ask this to all. Has the government (any gov) ever force a kid to take a vaccine/med ect. on the basis of attending public school for an illness that would not be a danger or put at risk for infection any persons in a classroom environment?

 

[brennan]

You know if you are in a car crash the people in the back seat can kill the people in front if they don't wear seatbelts? Quit whining about nanny states and belt up. Fs you want to whine about your civil liverties find something better to talk about. The Patriot act perhaps?

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

As far as I know, there is no vaccine for chickenpox.

There is a vaccine for chickenpox that has been around since 1995. It is included in the standard immunization schedule.

Measles is another highly infectous disease that is an immediate threat to the greater population.

Actually, it's not. Measles is only a threat to the health of adults. Anyone who had young children before 1968 knows that they shake measles off like a common cold. However, adult measles is a different story.

HPV is not highly infectious. One can avoid becoming infected through means other than recieving the vaccine.

It is highly prevalent in humans, with perhaps as much as 90% of the population of the world having the virus. (this is also why it must be given so early in life) So it is, in fact, impossible to avoid unless you plan to never have sex in your entire life. Therefore, it is highly infectious. In fact, if it was not so prevalent, the demand for the vaccine would be non-existent. There are some vaccines that are not scheduled, such as the yellow fever virus vaccine, anthrax vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine. There just isn't a whole lot of anthrax or yellow fever in the US so you can't get it unless you are going somewhere where there's a lot of it. So these vaccines aren't mandated by the CDC.

Again, I have been reading through this thread and I have not seen a single person use this argument, yet. I certainly have not. My challenge to produce the post, where I used that argument, still stands.

It's mentioned in the article.