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Killing Off Cancer
"I’m wondering – should I get the vaccine?"
By Alana Germany
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There's been a lot of hype about the new HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer and is being recommended for girls ages 9 to twenty-six. Many states around the country are considering mandating it, including Texas and California. Meanwhile young women and their parents are trying to sort through all the information to decide whether or not they should get the vaccine. Youth Radio's Alana Germany investigated the issue. (March 8 on KQED)
The past few weeks, every time I take a seat to relax and watch a little TV, I see that new commercial ...advertising the vaccine that was developed to prevent cervical cancer.
And even though I visit YouTube daily to check out the latest videos, I would have never thought of checking a site like that for medical information. To my surprise, YouTube has a bunch of videos on the new vaccine and how it works. So does MySpace.
I learned about cervical cancer in my high school health class, and I have a family member who actually had the disease, but it never seemed like that big of a deal. Now I see these commercials, and the statistics about how many women will be affected by the HPV virus, how it leads to cervical cancer...and well...it’s all shocking. I’ve been wondering, should I get the vaccine? I have always been wary of vaccines because I never have been able to grasp the idea of how vaccines work - injecting yourself with the disease you’re trying to avoid?
A lot of parents are worried that administering the vaccine promotes promiscuity, since HPV, the virus that can cause cervical cancer, is a sexually transmitted disease. Whether or not getting the vaccine affects girls’ decision to have sex, the bottom line is that it can prevent cancer. The CDC is recommending that girls as young as nine get the vaccine. There are 20 states considering mandating the vaccine - including California.
There’s also a bill in motion here to require insurance companies to pay for a series of three injections. And I think since there is a vaccine available, everyone should be able to get it, regardless of their financial situation. But even if I’m able to get it for free, that doesn’t mean I will.
This isn’t a decision I have to make right away. The vaccine is recommended for girls up to age 26, and it’s still in the early stages of actually being used by the public. I’ll feel a lot more comfortable getting the vaccine after there are more statistics that about its effectiveness over time.
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