Scientists recently discovered a vaccine that will prevent the virus that causes cervical cancer in women. This has the "moral values" crowd in an uproar that we will be promoting sex while trying to prevent cancer.
Ellen Goodman from the Boston Globe writes:
In clinical trials, a new vaccine was 100% successfull in preventing the virus that causes most cervical cancer, the 2nd leading cancer killer of women in the world. Every year some 10,000 women are diagnosed with it, and nearly 4,000 die. It now appears that with government approval and funding, we are on our way to ending the scourge.
At the heart of the debate is the fact that the vaccine works against the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is sexually transmitted. HPV is transmitted skin to skin, not just through intercourse, so condoms aren't wholly effective against it.
The vaccine is wonderful news! We can prevent cervical cancer in women! As a mother, I would want my daughter to have this vaccine. But there are people actually against this. This statment from Leslie Unruh of the National Abstinence Clearinghouse sums it up,
"I personally object to vaccinating children against a disease that is 100% preventable with proper sexual behavior."
That my friends, is why the conservatives are up in arms about this. It has to do with sex, and we should apparently bear the repercussions of sinning by having sex, be it pregnancy or cancer.
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins had this to say,
"It sends the wrong message. Our concern is that this vaccine will be marketed to a segment of the population that should be getting a message about abstinence."
We all know how that message works. Teens are going to have sex at some point, it is inevitable. We can either arm them with knowledge to protect themselves or we can stick our heads in the sand and hope that they don't get AIDS, the HPV virus or pregnant.
Abstinence only teachers say many deceitful things to promote their agenda, telling kids that pregnancy is possible by touching another's genitals, that condoms don't work and in the case of HPV, that choosing sex may mean choosing cancer. This is absolutely ridiculous and based on flawed studies geared to reach this outcome.
From Ellen Goodman:
This vaccine would have to be given to preteens before they are
sexually active. If that send the "wrong message"- that we expect that they'll
have premarital sex- what exactly is the "right message"? That we care more
about their virginity that their life?
This is simple to me. I don't want my child to die, and I am trying to come to terms with the fact that eventually, yes, God forbid- she will have sex! I would much rather her know the risks involved with this responsibility than just preaching to her that she shouldn't do it at all. So I will teach her these things myself and hope that the vaccine becomes available for her when the time comes.