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Why Cervical Cancer Vaccines Should Not Be Mandatory

By Theresa Fritz Camoriano

There are many reasons why government should not cozy up to the Merck lobbyists and mandate that schoolgirls be injected with the cervical cancer vaccine.  Here are eight:

1.                 The virus that causes cervical cancer cannot be transmitted by sneezing or other types of contact that would occur in school.  It is transmitted by sexual contact.  Since attending school does not put students at risk of getting the virus, the government has no compelling interest that would override the rights of parents to decide what medical treatment is best for their daughters.

2.                 Mandating the vaccine eliminates the ability of parents to consult with their doctors and do their own research in order to take all factors into account, including cost (at least $360 per person), health risks, effectiveness of the vaccine, and alternatives. 

3.                 Mandating the vaccine will mean that government will pick up the tab for a large number of girls, creating a substantial drain on taxpayers.

4.                 Every dollar spent on Gardasil injections is a dollar not spent on other health care issues (or on education, environmental concerns, etc.) where it may be more effective at improving the lives of young girls.

5.                 For women who receive regular Pap tests, the risk of cervical cancer is extremely low, even though at least half of women have had the virus that causes cervical cancer.  In the vast majority of cases, the virus goes away on its own.  Even when it does not, Pap tests enable women to prevent cervical cancer by treating precancerous cells before they become cancerous.… Most women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. have either never had a Pap test, or have not had a Pap test in the last 5 years. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm#hpvvac2  Even people who have received Gardasil injections are advised to continue receiving Pap tests.

6.                 There are questions about the safety of Gardasil, which includes aluminum http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=&id=433

7.                 So far, Gardasil has only been proven to be effective for five years, so booster shots may be required at additional cost.  Girls may think they are protected, when they are not. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm#hpvvac2

8.                 By mandating Gardasil, the government will stunt the development of newer and better ways to prevent or treat cervical cancer.

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