Group Calls For Routine HPV Vaccination For Girls

[Triana]

POSTED: 11:54 am EDT June 29, 2006

ATLANTA -- Taking up a potentially explosive issue among religious conservatives, an influential government advisory panel Thursday recommended that 11- and 12-year-old girls be routinely vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also said the shots can be started for girls as young as 9, at the discretion of their doctors.

The committee's recommendations usually are accepted by federal health officials, and influence insurance coverage for vaccinations.

...

Health officials estimate that more than 50 percent of sexually active women and men will be infected with one or more types of HPV in their lifetimes. Vaccine proponents say it could dramatically reduce the nearly 4,000 cervical cancer deaths that occur each year in the United States.

Scientists say the vaccine is most effective when given to girls before they become sexually active. About 7 percent of children have had sexual intercourse before age 13, and about a quarter of boys and girls have had sex by age 15, according to government surveys.

...

MORE:

http://www.wral.com/health/9446617/detail.html

[niyad]

1. and once again, big pharma benefits

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Maybe look at it from a woman's POV? No cervical cancer?

Just a thought.

[niyad]

4. no, I don't believe they gave women a single thought-- nothing anybody

connected with this maladministration does has, as a stated goal, being of benefit to women. experience has taught us that there is a serious catch in here somewhere, and that *'s buddies are going to profit from this. remember the avian flu vaccine and how rummy is profiting?

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. 7% of children have had sex before age 13??? Yikes. Times have changed.

I think this is a good idea.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. I don't think that's anything new.

But yeah, it's a good idea.