Should Your Daughter get the HPV vaccine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB2Vv_kEEdY

This Youtube video is a clip from the Today Shoe, advertising the positive effects of the Gardasil drug

This article raises up probably one of the most controversial issues of 2007: the vaccination of female girls. Very convincing issues are raised on both sides of the issue, but in the end, my opinion stands that the vaccination should be available to females, and they should be given the choice.

Many people opposing the idea, are mainly from the Catholic board. Their idea is that by providing the vaccination, they are supporting or "opening the gates" for pre-marital sex. However, at the end of the day, girls are going to have sex if the choose to, regardless of whether they have protection or not. By providing the vaccination, it protects the future of all females, but the choice about sexual engagement still remains in their hands.

However, a strong point against the vaccination is about how "new" the drug is to the market. Doctors and scientists have argued the fact that the drug provides more benefits to females than it does risks, but no one has seen the long term effects of the drugs in females. There have been many anti-depressants and other anti-anxiety drugs that have been pulled off the shelf, due to the horrible effects it has had on people (i.e. addiction, weight gain, mercury-traces etc.). Many people are at risk by using this drug so early at it's stage, and the fact that it is being introduced to females at such a young age, we do not know the risks it may pose and the impacts it can possibly have on their lives in the future.

In the end, I think that the HPV vaccine could possibly be another scheme that pharmaceutical companies are using to get rich really quick, by providing a drug that can "allow girls to have sex, with one less disease to think about", but I also think that it can be an opportunity for a major break-through in science and in health. I'm wondering: if the vaccine was geared directly towards young boys, would there be such an outrage by the public? Just something to think about.