| Update: If you look at the DKos version of this diary, you'll see many comments raising concerns over this vaccine.
One issue people was the idea that the state could force vaccines on people. The second was the safety of the issue which TxSharon raises below.
The safety of the HPV Vaccine should definitely be checked - after all Merck is the same company that gave us the dangerous Vioxx drug.
However, the hostility to vaccines by the state was surprising to me.
I should've included the fact that parents can opt-out of this vaccine, but I had to run earlier:
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical reasons. Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say such requirements interfere with parents' rights to make medical decisions for their children.
Hopefully that will calm the numerous people who felt like the State was forcing themselves on their child.
That said, I must say I'm surprised by the number of posts against vaccinations. To some degree I understand it (Merck/Perry aren't exactly trustworthy), but I also wonder if there is a level of paranoia out there.
A somewhat understandable paranoia - but nonetheless paranoia. And a willingness to stubbornly fight for your right to say no in the face of medically sound advice.
For a thorough discussion of HPV, look to TheSilence's diary here. It also contains good comments from TxSharon on concerns re: the safety of vaccine.
But let me say that I admire the your willness to question everything & think it can be healthy. I myself do not agree with for instance the flu vaccine.
However, that doesn't mean all vaccines are wrong. I think we should look at this more positively in terms of women's health & less suspiciously (esp w/ opt out clause).
Can Merck be trusted? No. Vioxx proved that. Can Perry be? Hell NO!
But not all vaccines are bad & the research does indicate a sound basis for proposing it.
That said, the bottomline is that it should be available should one want to take it - and conservative groups want to take that choice away from you.
This law still gives you that choice - & still have a sound medically approved base. |
