OK, I admit that post title seems a bit odd, but seriously, it's pretty amazing that they may have created a vaccine that could prevent up to 70% of the cervical cancers out there.
Here's the part I will find interesting: the vaccine really works because it's a vaccine that prevents a sexually-transmitted virus, HPV, that causes most cervical cancers. And the best time to be vaccinated, according to researchers, is before becoming sexually active.
So, the real way to prevent all those cases of cervical cancer is to give young girls a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease.
How long can it possibly be before some group somewhere gets their knickers in a twist over this?
Well, apparently the knickers were twisted months ago before the final results of these studies were even released. And it's not just Christian conservative groups in the US that have an issue...supposedly it's even more likely to cause conflicts overseas. I guess this all means that if they did indeed discover a vaccine for HIV these groups would be opposed to that too?
Are we now to add cervical cancer to lung cancer as one of those diseases where the patient somehow "deserves" it?
Politicizing medical treatment: not good...IMHO
Good post--I hope that no one tries to impede this vaccine--there is always some nut out there . . . My mother had cervical cancer, and I readily support any effort to reduce the number of people affected by it.
Posted by: DP | October 18, 2005 at 05:33 AM
Thanks for the comment DP. I agree there are always nuts out there. I just fear that right now some of those nuts may have some pwoer over what happens to this vaccine in this country.
Look at how they killed the "morning after" pill for OTC distribution.
Posted by: Elisa Camahort | October 18, 2005 at 02:38 PM
Why vaccinate only girls? 90% of them get their STD's from boys.
Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch | October 18, 2005 at 04:33 PM
Excellent point. Id it works on boys they should give it to boys!!
Posted by: Elisa Camahort | October 18, 2005 at 04:44 PM