HPV Vaccine
2008-05-15 10:14:00.0
AUTHOR: Judy Turner
The government has recently announced that they will spend $177 million on providing a five year vaccination programme for girls and young women against two types of sexually transmitted viruses linked to the majority of cervical cancers that currently kill 60 NZ women a year. Like all vaccinations programmes in NZ, participation will be voluntary.
There have been some howls from certain quarters that this will encourage sexual promiscuity among teenagers. On this matter I’d like to make three points.
- Sorry … wake up … the proverbial horse sadly bolted years ago.
- This vaccination only covers a few HPV strains and so all the warning messages remain essential. Most sexually transmitted infections are asymptomatic (you don’t know you have them).
- The innocent are not automatically safe. The monogamous young person who marries someone with an infection will find marriage no protection, and more than 100 babies were born infected with a sexually transmitted disease last year here in NZ.
Our health dollars are now largely spent on mitigating the consequences of irresponsible personal choices. Poor nutrition, reduced physical activity levels, Obesity, alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, and reckless sexual liaisons have all inspired the development of expensive new treatments to counter these unhealthy choices. There is an inconsistent life-ethic in damming this vaccine while popping cholesterol management medication.
So would I get my young daughter vaccinated? My personal preference is that this would be a decision she should make for herself prior to becoming sexually active as part of consideration any responsible young person would hopefully weigh up – along with the values we had attempted to instil.
But can I understand a parent opting for this vaccine to protect their daughter from some harms? Yes I can.
QUOTE: The Catholic Church hierarchy in NZ does not see a link between the vaccine and promiscuity and supports the vaccine being offered to 12-year-olds as long as parents’ consent is sought appropriately (NZ Herald 3 May 08)