From the New York Times on December 30th:
FORBIDDEN VACCINE Ever year, about 500,000 women throughout the world develop cervical cancer. In the United States alone, the disease kills about 3,700 women annually. This year, scientists developed a vaccine against human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that is the primary cause of cervical cancer. The vaccine produced 100 percent immunity in the 6,000 women who received it as part of a multinational trial. As soon as the vaccine is licensed, some health officials say, it should be administered to all girls at age 12. But the Family Research Council and other social conservative groups vowed to fight that plan, even though it could virtually eliminate cervical cancer. Vaccinating girls against a sexually transmitted disease, they say, would reduce their incentive to abstain from premarital sex.
Arrgh! This is just one of many areas where the US seems to be going backwards.
Don't get me started. Do you know how many condoms I paid for last year to supplement their stupid USAID abstinence-based health programs?
ReplyDeleteMillions.
And it should be hundreds of millions if it's going to have any effect at all.