I really hate the whole mandatory vaccines-for-school thing. Sure, there are religious exemptions, but it just squicks me out. Perhaps it's because an adverse reaction to a vaccine has left me in permanent, chronic pain. Perhaps not.
*nod* I can understand that perspective. As as long as we don't cross a threshold where epidemics can really take hold (which would require pretty huge numbers of people opting out), I don't care much about people choosing not to take them (although it bothers me that it's a "religious" exemption, rather than something more general -- I don't think people should have to say "god said so" in order to make that kind of choice). And if I had my way about the health system, the financial incentive to make it mandatory wouldn't be an issue. As is, though, I think they're very right that if it doesn't get added to the list, it'll remain out of reach for too many people.
Oh, I think it should be available and low-cost, absolutely, and I strongly support *most* vaccination programs, I just think that the all-or-nothing mentality is dangerous. I just dislike the school-mandated vaccination laws, especially since some states have all-or-nothing waivers (though they can be circumvented--a friend of mine claims she's gonna suddenly find religion before she lets the kids get hep or chicken pox vaccines, but the other vax she has no qualms with).
I'm a bit disgusted that vaccines are only available low-cost when they're state mandated for school entry.
That's the one thing I always tell people *to* get vaccinated for. It survives and unwholesomely long time outside the body, so there's only so much that you can do to limit your risk of getting it.
I totally stole this concept from one of the myriad of political comedy things I listen to but if people are really concerned about the immunization, they should just make sure their daughters don't know what the shot it. Then the kid is still protected and in no way has been given the license by the jew run govt to be a total slut.
"Here you go honey, that's to protect against Djenghi Fever! who wants ice cream?"
By the time they know about the HPV or that they've been immunized, their minds have probably already cemented on whether they're going to have sex soon or not anyway.
What I love about the "vaccine gives license for licentiousness" argument is that it bypasses the issue of nonconsensual sex and statutory rape. I live in Virginia, a state that has one of the nation's highest rates of men over 25 *impregnating* girls under 17. This means that a lot more of these borderline molestations are slipping under the radar. Have any of these men even considered that their own daughters may be infected by molestation? Oh, but everyone knows that only gay people do that.
I'd thought that making it a part of pre-school vaccinations was silly. Then I'd heard that it's most affective if given when the child's a toddler. If that is truly the case (and not "oh, you'll need boosters when you're an adult" like with measles and the like), then there's no good argument against making it a required school vaccination.
I hadn't heard about it being most effective that early, but I know they were shooting for "before puberty" because it's most effective before exposure to HPV, so the safest bet is before adolescence. I'll have to check that out...
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 06:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 06:31 pm (UTC)I'm a bit disgusted that vaccines are only available low-cost when they're state mandated for school entry.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-15 12:04 pm (UTC)Amen.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-15 12:17 pm (UTC)That's the one thing I always tell people *to* get vaccinated for. It survives and unwholesomely long time outside the body, so there's only so much that you can do to limit your risk of getting it.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-15 03:15 pm (UTC)Better living through un-ethical medicine
Date: 2006-06-14 03:51 pm (UTC)"Here you go honey, that's to protect against Djenghi Fever! who wants ice cream?"
By the time they know about the HPV or that they've been immunized, their minds have probably already cemented on whether they're going to have sex soon or not anyway.
Re: Better living through un-ethical medicine
Date: 2006-06-15 12:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-15 12:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-14 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-15 12:02 pm (UTC)