A Questionable Vaccine

Rating: S
I’ve seen the commercials for the vaccine, and I know that some of the local doctors are vaccinating teens now—even some of the students at our school have had the vaccination. I don’t like it.
The vaccine is for HPV, the human papilloma virus. Young girls are encouraged to get it so that they can be protected against cervical cancer. The vaccine actually does not protect against cervical cancer, but against HPV, which is known to cause cancer and is a sexually transmitted disease. (Yes, I know hand/feet warts are a form of HPV, but then again, canker sores are a form of herpes, too—these aren’t considered STDs.)
Now, who wouldn’t want to prevent cervical cancer? Not me. I’m all for finding a cure for cancer and encouraging prevention thereof.
The problem is not cancer prevention. The problem is inoculating against HPV. I’m not one of those people you hear of who are anti-vaccine because they are anti-government or feel that vaccines weaken immune systems or something like that. I think children should be protected from contracting polio, smallpox, and the other debilitating disease for which children receive vaccines. No, my objection to the HPV vaccine is that there is a no-cost way to prevent contracting HPV. Don’t have sex before marriage, marry someone who did not have sex before marriage, and remain in a monogamous relationship.
The commercials show vibrant youth who say, “I want to be one less. . .” one less woman to have cervical cancer; then the commercial encourages people to protect their daughters. Protect them? Absolutely! By giving them a shot and saying, “You won’t get HPV now, so just remember to not get pregnant now as you have sex with anyone you choose. . .”? Absolutely not! If we truly want to protect our daughters and granddaughters, we will encourage them to save their bodies for marriage. Additionally, we will persuade our sons and grandsons to do the same. Love waits, not takes before the right time.