Beginning with the fall of 2008 incoming class, Texas will require that all 6th grade girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, the Merck & Co. vaccine intended to stave off human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.
The Gardasil vaccination will be included alongside other common vaccines such as measles and TB, and parents will have an option to opt out should they prefer their daughters not receive the Gardasil shot. Other states currently developing similar legislation will be closely monitoring developments in Texas as the school year starts up.
Gardasil Controversy
In its short two-year stint as a legal vaccination in the U.S., Gardasil has been a source of controversy for a number of reasons, including medical and political, as well as issues related to personal privacy, individual freedom, and sexual mores. Many parents have expressed discomfort over the fact insisting that all 6th grade girls be vaccinated assumes sexual activity in very young girls.
Additionally, of the 8 million doses that have been given, there have been 8,000 reports of adverse side effects. These side effects range from the common: pain around the area of injection, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, allergic reactions, to the rare and severe: paralysis, chronic pain, lupus, arthritis, etc.
Impact of Gardasil on Cervical Cancer Rates
On the other hand, Gardasil protects against 4 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), 2 of which cause 70% of all cervical cancer cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), by age 50, more than 80% of American women will have contracted HPV. (Men contract HPV just as easily as women; however, Gardasil hasn’t been tested and approved for males.)
Proponents of Gardasil believe that cervical cancer could be nearly wiped out in 40 years if the vaccine is required in all men and women. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer for women. There are 11,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer per year and of those, 3,700 will die.
