The Review

Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Editorial

Media Credit: Domenic DiBerardinis [Click to enlarge]

The most recent developments surrounding the human papillomavirus comes as a surprise to most in The Review newsroom. Not because we are in some way against the mandates for girls entering sixth grade to get the vaccine, but because of where the vaccine is being mandated.

Texas has long been known as a conservative state, but this measure is clearly proactive in the health and science realm of legislation. Other states should follow Texas' lead and begin mandating the vaccine.

The controversy comes from those who think the vaccination will give girls the idea that they are free to have sex without danger. That debate is simply ridiculous and unwarranted. Girls should be educated about the dangers of sex. Girls should not be prevented from having a potentially life-saving procedure.

The procedure prevents a sexually-transmitted disease. It also prevents cervical cancer, a possibly deadly disease.

The vaccination can be included in a list of vaccinations that includes measles, mumps and rubella or hepatitis, and should be required for women of this age group.

There is a loophole in the legislation in which parents who do not wish to have their children vaccinated can avoid the law. The Texas governor's spokeswoman was correct when she said parents should have a final decision. Parents should also look out for their children's best interests and vaccinate their children.

It is more than reasonable for parents to question the validity of such a new drug, but the facts speak for themselves. If the vaccine is proven to be 100 percent effective in preventing the contraction of HPV, there is no excuse for not giving the vaccination to girls.

With the new legislation. Texas should design a program that helps poorer families pay for the $450 vaccination which is not always covered by insurance companies.

It is one thing to mandate a vaccine but it is hypocritical not to have an outlet for less-fortunate people to afford the vaccine.

People should be able to pull their children from the vaccination line, but people should not be forced to use the loophole simply because they can not afford the procedure.

In theory, a mandate of the vaccination could eliminate the virus all together, and it could disappear the way polio and small pox have in recent generations.

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