Governor Rick Perry issued an order that girls entering the sixth grade would have to receive the vaccine starting in September 2008. However, Texas lawmakers rejected Governor Perry’s order, sending him a bill which blocks state officials from requiring young women to take the shot for at least four years.
Perry has 10 days to sign or veto it, or the bill will become law without his signature. The FDA-approved Gardasil vaccine, designed for girls ages 9 to 12, helps prevent infection of the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Girls ages 13 to 26 are also encouraged to receive the vaccine.
HPV is contracted through any type of sexual activity that involves genital contact between two individuals. Many people are not aware they have HPV because sometimes they do not have any obvious symptoms. The CDC website reports that “HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At least 50 percent of sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives.” Currently, 20 million Americans are infected with HPV.The Gardasil vaccine will help prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions and genital warts, according to the CDC website. Some side effects of the vaccine may include difficultly breathing, pain, itching, swelling, redness at the injection sight, fever, dizziness and nausea.
According to Merck & Co, the vaccine’s manufacturer, the vaccine will not protect you from the virus if you already have been exposed to it. After receiving the vaccine, females are encouraged to get routine cervical cancer screenings since the vaccine may not fully protect everyone and does not protect against other diseases that are not caused by HPV.
A woman, whose identity will remain anonymous, is HPV positive. “Living with the virus, you have to be more responsible and considerate and try not to give it to anyone else. I think the vaccine came way too late, and I wish it were developed 20 years ago. I think the new vaccine is going to prevent a lot of cancer and save a lot of lives.”
Some people are unsure about the vaccine because it is too new, and they are afraid of the long-term side effects. Other critics say that the vaccine will promote sexual promiscuity.
Governor Perry said, “Providing the HPV vaccine doesn’t promote sexual promiscuity anymore than providing the Hepatitis B vaccine promotes drug use. If the medical community developed a vaccine for lung cancer, would the same critics oppose it claiming it would encourage smoking?”
As for now, the debate in Texas continues.