The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #98749   Message #1958707
Posted By: Bagpuss
06-Feb-07 - 03:59 AM
Thread Name: BS: Texas Requires Cancer Vaccine for Girls
Subject: RE: BS: Texas Requires Cancer Vaccine for Girls
Obviously the vaccine is a good thing - if used universally it will cut cervical cancer rates by 70%. And the thing about vaccines is that once you reach a certain level in the population, you get herd immunity, and therefore anyone who for whatever reason cannot be vaccinated, still gets a high level of protection. So it is a good idea to use strategies that maintain a high level of vaccination in the general population. Whether making any vaccines *mandatory* is a good idea is a whole discussion on its own - then you are getting into the area of civil liberties and the right to refuse treatment etc, versus risks to public health.

Regarding the objections by some christian groups that it will encourage promiscuity and earlier sex...

How many teenage girls do you know who even take the risk of cervical cancer into consideration when deciding whether to have sex? So there is your answer right there