This is one of the best opinion pieces that I’ve seen on the issue of making the HPV (aka Gardisil) vaccine mandatory. It is from American.comand presents the issues involved in such an intelligent way.

Bottom line is that no one is opposed to preventing cervical cancer, but as the article points out, cervical cancer in the U.S. is largely found among the poor and uneducated–those who do not get regular PAP smears. Again, what this controversy boils down to is once again, the disparity in healthcare, rather than the need for forcing a brand new vaccine on everyone.

If you want the vaccine, then fine. But HPV is not highly contagious, and does not represent a threat to public health. And that is the only reason for mandating vaccines–not to bring untold wealth to the pharmaceutical companies. In about 97% of cases, the HPV strains found in women are not the type that typically lead to cervical cancer. And even in women who are infected with the high risk strains, most will not go on to develop cancer. A healthy immune system will generally fight off the infection and HPV goes bye-bye.

I oppose mandating this vaccine. I don’t think that it will have any effect on sexual activity (does anyone really think that a horny teen worries now about HPV?), but I do object to trying to force this brand new vaccine on the general public. As I said before, HPV does not float through the air. It is not contagious like the flu, measles, whooping cough, etc. We have no idea as to the long term side effects of the vaccine, or how long the vaccine will even last. Post marketing studies need to done with this, and even then, this is one vaccine that should never be forced on anyone.

What we should be doing is improving the health services and education of the poorer populations, and promote the vaccine to those who remain at the highest risk of cervical cancer.