United States:
Who Could Possibly Object to a Vaccine That Would Save Lives?

Feb 27, 2006

Scientists have developed two vaccines that could prevent cervical cancer, a disease contracted by 10,000 women each year and which kills 4,000 annually.

The vaccines work by preventing infection by human papillovirus (HPV), which is believed to cause most cervical cancer. HPV is transmitted by sexual contact. The most effective way to administer the vaccine is during childhood, before children are sexually active, whether consensually or by force.

Unfortunately, the idea of vaccinating children against a sexually transmitted disease offends the “morality” of some religious fundamentalists. They argue that vaccinating children at an early age would encourage promiscuity!

What a disgusting mind these people have! Most women, knowing the risk, would want to see the vaccines approved and administered to their daughters to prevent the spread of the virus. And many are fearful, today, that the treatment won’t be made available, since George Bush appointed Reginald Finger, a Christian fundamentalist, to the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

There is good reason to be fearful, since a Bush appointee to another “advisory” committee was used to ram through a reversal of FDA’s science panel’s recommendation to allow emergency contraception. Then, too, the argument was it would encourage promiscuity.

These are the same fundamentalist religious forces that are leading the attack on access to abortion. This tiny minority of religious fanatics would rather condemn thousands of women to death than allow the use of an effective medical weapon. It is a reflection of their rabidly reactionary views toward sexuality and women.

Don’t let them impose their reactionary world view on the whole population.