Hpv Vaccine Controversy
Milhouse VanHouten
Posts: 755
This story ran in my local paper yesterday. Legitimate questions/concerns about the vaccine and the proposals are raised, but I found Ms. Stanek's views and her attacks on Senator Halvorson to be disgusting.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/108208.asp
Debate over HPV shot gets personal
Opponent of bill calls out sponsor to reveal details of private life
By DANA HEUPEL
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU
Published Monday, February 19, 2007
Legislation to vaccinate pre-teen girls against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer has sparked a heated debate at the Illinois Statehouse.
The discussion has even moved to the point where one opponent of the legislation has publicly called on a sponsor to reveal her sexual history.
At issue is the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer in females. A new vaccine, Gardasil, has been shown to protect against HPV strains that cause 70 percent of the cancer cases. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended vaccinations for 11- and 12-year-old girls - before they are likely to become sexually active.
An Illinois House bill would require girls to be vaccinated before they enter sixth grade beginning in 2008-09 unless their parents formally opt out. A similar Senate bill would have schools provide information about HPV and cervical cancer to 11- and 12-year-old girls beginning this fall and then would require immunizations - again, unless parents decide against them - in 2009.
"I really thought it was a no-brainer," Sen. Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, D-Crete, the sponsor of Senate Bill 10, said last week. "It just made perfect sense to me, and then everybody seemed to come out of the woodwork and start all this chaos against this vaccine."
Conservative groups, such as the Illinois Family Institute, have begun lobbying against the legislation. And the topic has been a hot item with conservative bloggers and commentators in Illinois and throughout America ever since Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order two weeks ago requiring HPV vaccinations in that state.
"It takes away from parental rights to mandate this vaccine," said Jill Stanek, a blogger and conservative Web columnist from Mokena.
Even though both bills would allow parents to decide against vaccinations, "it still puts the burden on the parents to opt out,"
she said. "And some pediatricians will drop patients if they don't adhere to the mandated vaccination regimen."
Other concerns, Stanek said, include whether the Federal Drug Administration has fully vetted the vaccine and whether it could provide "a false sense of security," causing women to forgo Pap smears. Those examinations already have dramatically reduced cervical cancer and could detect cancer caused by HPV strains not covered by the vaccine, she said.
Aside from philosophical arguments, the criticism has also taken on a personal tone.
The vaccine's manufacturer, Merck & Co., is waging a nationwide campaign to promote the series of three injections, which are given over six months. Stanek points out that Merck contributed $1,000 to Halvorson's re-election campaign last year. Merck also is a sponsor of Women In Government, a national organization for which Halvorson is a board member.
Halvorson said the campaign contribution had nothing to do with the legislation. It made up only a small portion of the more than $225,000 she raised during the last reporting period, she said.
"If I did special legislation for everybody who gave me a campaign contribution, you know how busy I'd be?" Halvorson asked.
Halvorson also said Merck is only one of more than 75 corporate sponsors - including a number of other pharmaceutical companies - that support Women In Government.
But Stanek has trod onto even more personal ground.
The 49-year-old Halvorson has acknowledged she had a hysterectomy in 2002 after precancerous cells were discovered on her cervix during a medical exam.
Writing Feb. 6 on www .illinoisreview.com, a conservative blog, Stanek said Halvorson "does not advocate avoiding a risky behavior that leads not only to HPV but to 20-plus other STDs and their strains, along with unplanned pregnancy. Halvorson merely advocates trying to avoid the consequences of risky behavior. Shame on her."
Among other suggestions, Stanek urged Halvorson to "discuss the number of sex partners she has had throughout her lifetime and how each one increased the likelihood of contracting HPV" and wrote that "if Halvorson contracted HPV through rape, she could discuss ways to avoid rape."
The comments soon became a topic of discussion on numerous other blogs. Some commenters echoed Stanek's statements. Others said she was entirely out of line.
Stanek said last week she stands by her comments. Halvorson and others, Stanek said, "were saying, 'I have a history of this disease, but my solution excludes assessing the history of my disease. They didn't want to talk about how did they get it - how do you get HPV - which is where they would have done the most good."
"The best way to avoid HPV 100 percent is through abstinence," Stanek said.
"Unfortunately, my life isn't as flamboyant as they'd like to make it," Halvorson responded. "I used to have respect for (Stanek) and her stance - and I have total respect for people who do things based on facts - but to make it so personal and ignorant only makes me more determined to get the word out."
"Obviously abstinence is best," Halvorson said. "I'm not preaching to have anybody go out and have wild, unprotected sex. I'm talking about being able to eliminate cervical cancer. It has nothing to do with sex. It has everything to do with cancer."
But conservatives aren't the only ones with reservations about mandatory vaccinations. In its annual report, the state Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force said, "Mandating the vaccination for all (female) school children in Illinois is premature. Instead, the task force believes the best prevention against this disease is an informed public."
"I think the logistics are not in place yet to make mandatory screening at this point," said Dr. L. Stewart Massad, director of gynecologic oncology at Southern Illinois University Medical School in Springfield and a task force member. "I think it's likely to be a good idea in the future."
One concern, he said, is the cost of the vaccine. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the price at $120 for each of the three injections, and Massad said doctor's office fees could push the total cost to nearly $500.
"Requiring $360 for a vaccine to get into sixth grade is a big deal for some people," Massad said. "If it's not covered by insurance, then do we want to make it mandatory at this point?"
Massad said he and other task force members also are concerned about the availability of the vaccine and possible adverse reactions, although so far they are limited only to mild fever and soreness at the injection site.
He emphasized, however, that the task force does endorse voluntary vaccinations for women ages 13 to 26.
"Those of us on the task force have seen people die from cervical cancer. This can prevent that," Massad said. "We don't see why a parent would not want their child vaccinated if they understand what cervical cancer does to people."
Halvorson and Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, the sponsor of the House legislation, HB115, said they are considering making the vaccinations coincide with mandated fifth-grade physicals or perhaps moving the physicals to the sixth grade. That would save the cost of a separate doctor's visit, they said.
Halvorson also said another pharmaceutical firm, GlaxoSmithKline, intends to introduce a similar vaccine soon, and the competition could lower the price of the immunizations.
Two of the state's largest medical insurers, Health Alliance and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, both said they cover the vaccinations for women who fall under the federal advisory panel's guidelines.
Several central Illinois lawmakers contacted said they want to learn more before they decide whether to support the mandated HPV vaccinations.
Dana Heupel can be reached at 788-1518 or dana.heupel@sj-r.com.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/108208.asp
Debate over HPV shot gets personal
Opponent of bill calls out sponsor to reveal details of private life
By DANA HEUPEL
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU
Published Monday, February 19, 2007
Legislation to vaccinate pre-teen girls against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer has sparked a heated debate at the Illinois Statehouse.
The discussion has even moved to the point where one opponent of the legislation has publicly called on a sponsor to reveal her sexual history.
At issue is the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer in females. A new vaccine, Gardasil, has been shown to protect against HPV strains that cause 70 percent of the cancer cases. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended vaccinations for 11- and 12-year-old girls - before they are likely to become sexually active.
An Illinois House bill would require girls to be vaccinated before they enter sixth grade beginning in 2008-09 unless their parents formally opt out. A similar Senate bill would have schools provide information about HPV and cervical cancer to 11- and 12-year-old girls beginning this fall and then would require immunizations - again, unless parents decide against them - in 2009.
"I really thought it was a no-brainer," Sen. Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, D-Crete, the sponsor of Senate Bill 10, said last week. "It just made perfect sense to me, and then everybody seemed to come out of the woodwork and start all this chaos against this vaccine."
Conservative groups, such as the Illinois Family Institute, have begun lobbying against the legislation. And the topic has been a hot item with conservative bloggers and commentators in Illinois and throughout America ever since Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order two weeks ago requiring HPV vaccinations in that state.
"It takes away from parental rights to mandate this vaccine," said Jill Stanek, a blogger and conservative Web columnist from Mokena.
Even though both bills would allow parents to decide against vaccinations, "it still puts the burden on the parents to opt out,"
she said. "And some pediatricians will drop patients if they don't adhere to the mandated vaccination regimen."
Other concerns, Stanek said, include whether the Federal Drug Administration has fully vetted the vaccine and whether it could provide "a false sense of security," causing women to forgo Pap smears. Those examinations already have dramatically reduced cervical cancer and could detect cancer caused by HPV strains not covered by the vaccine, she said.
Aside from philosophical arguments, the criticism has also taken on a personal tone.
The vaccine's manufacturer, Merck & Co., is waging a nationwide campaign to promote the series of three injections, which are given over six months. Stanek points out that Merck contributed $1,000 to Halvorson's re-election campaign last year. Merck also is a sponsor of Women In Government, a national organization for which Halvorson is a board member.
Halvorson said the campaign contribution had nothing to do with the legislation. It made up only a small portion of the more than $225,000 she raised during the last reporting period, she said.
"If I did special legislation for everybody who gave me a campaign contribution, you know how busy I'd be?" Halvorson asked.
Halvorson also said Merck is only one of more than 75 corporate sponsors - including a number of other pharmaceutical companies - that support Women In Government.
But Stanek has trod onto even more personal ground.
The 49-year-old Halvorson has acknowledged she had a hysterectomy in 2002 after precancerous cells were discovered on her cervix during a medical exam.
Writing Feb. 6 on www .illinoisreview.com, a conservative blog, Stanek said Halvorson "does not advocate avoiding a risky behavior that leads not only to HPV but to 20-plus other STDs and their strains, along with unplanned pregnancy. Halvorson merely advocates trying to avoid the consequences of risky behavior. Shame on her."
Among other suggestions, Stanek urged Halvorson to "discuss the number of sex partners she has had throughout her lifetime and how each one increased the likelihood of contracting HPV" and wrote that "if Halvorson contracted HPV through rape, she could discuss ways to avoid rape."
The comments soon became a topic of discussion on numerous other blogs. Some commenters echoed Stanek's statements. Others said she was entirely out of line.
Stanek said last week she stands by her comments. Halvorson and others, Stanek said, "were saying, 'I have a history of this disease, but my solution excludes assessing the history of my disease. They didn't want to talk about how did they get it - how do you get HPV - which is where they would have done the most good."
"The best way to avoid HPV 100 percent is through abstinence," Stanek said.
"Unfortunately, my life isn't as flamboyant as they'd like to make it," Halvorson responded. "I used to have respect for (Stanek) and her stance - and I have total respect for people who do things based on facts - but to make it so personal and ignorant only makes me more determined to get the word out."
"Obviously abstinence is best," Halvorson said. "I'm not preaching to have anybody go out and have wild, unprotected sex. I'm talking about being able to eliminate cervical cancer. It has nothing to do with sex. It has everything to do with cancer."
But conservatives aren't the only ones with reservations about mandatory vaccinations. In its annual report, the state Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force said, "Mandating the vaccination for all (female) school children in Illinois is premature. Instead, the task force believes the best prevention against this disease is an informed public."
"I think the logistics are not in place yet to make mandatory screening at this point," said Dr. L. Stewart Massad, director of gynecologic oncology at Southern Illinois University Medical School in Springfield and a task force member. "I think it's likely to be a good idea in the future."
One concern, he said, is the cost of the vaccine. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the price at $120 for each of the three injections, and Massad said doctor's office fees could push the total cost to nearly $500.
"Requiring $360 for a vaccine to get into sixth grade is a big deal for some people," Massad said. "If it's not covered by insurance, then do we want to make it mandatory at this point?"
Massad said he and other task force members also are concerned about the availability of the vaccine and possible adverse reactions, although so far they are limited only to mild fever and soreness at the injection site.
He emphasized, however, that the task force does endorse voluntary vaccinations for women ages 13 to 26.
"Those of us on the task force have seen people die from cervical cancer. This can prevent that," Massad said. "We don't see why a parent would not want their child vaccinated if they understand what cervical cancer does to people."
Halvorson and Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, the sponsor of the House legislation, HB115, said they are considering making the vaccinations coincide with mandated fifth-grade physicals or perhaps moving the physicals to the sixth grade. That would save the cost of a separate doctor's visit, they said.
Halvorson also said another pharmaceutical firm, GlaxoSmithKline, intends to introduce a similar vaccine soon, and the competition could lower the price of the immunizations.
Two of the state's largest medical insurers, Health Alliance and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, both said they cover the vaccinations for women who fall under the federal advisory panel's guidelines.
Several central Illinois lawmakers contacted said they want to learn more before they decide whether to support the mandated HPV vaccinations.
Dana Heupel can be reached at 788-1518 or dana.heupel@sj-r.com.
"Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
This is a true statement, however, like hippiemom suggested, a female can practice abstinence until she's married, but if her future husband did not, she can still contract the virus from him. I think every young woman who does not intend to be a nun, should have this vaccine. This is not a risky behavior issue, it's a cancer issue.
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
What is this logic? Does MMR vaccination cause masturbation too?
Why do people insist on shoving thier heads in the sand when it comes to genitals and their health?
sure we could eliminate sex altoegther that'd do it married or otherwise. Just ban sex...yep that's logical.
Knowledge is power. Educating people and vaccinating them against potential problems arms them for the future. "Abstinence education" is not education at all, it's sticking your head in the sand and hoping everything goes well. Not to mention that little pile of goo you call your childs brain will get information from somewhere else and it may not be factual....next stop...pull outs and rhythm methods...nice. Hello Planned Parenthood and or a shotgun wedding.
Unless it's found this vaccine is somehow harmful isn't it a good idea to try and curb instances of HPV?
To me, the most infuriating thing is that Stanek seems to PREFER that women remain at risk of contracting HPV and fucking CERVICAL CANCER, for no other reason than to satisfy her moral standards. Unbelievable.
If I ever had to watch my daughter going through this knowing that I could have prevented it ... there's just no way I'd be able to live with myself.
Serious question.....
that statement might be my favorite from the article. this bill 'puts a burden on parents to opt out of a vaccination' that could protect their daughter from cancer. what the mother?
i really do hope this is safe in the long run and that these can be made available for everyone--regardless of insurance coverage or income. i just can't wrap my head around the mentality that this would cause girls to be more sexually active (also like giving people condoms) and i can't help but think that some oppose this because they don't want girls and women to be in control of their sexuality.
cross the river to the eastside
I think it has been studied, at least I read about some independant and governmental (from the cdc and its equivalent in europe) studies about it.
Upholding morals has always led to some ludicrous reactions, because people fiercely upholding morals tend to have a black and white view of the world.
for the life of me, i can't understand how anyone could oppose the vaccine, if it does turn out to be safe. we're talking abotu preventing CANCER, for fuck's sake.
this bit was so absurd, it was almost funny:
Among other suggestions, Stanek... wrote that "if Halvorson contracted HPV through rape, she could discuss ways to avoid rape."
what the crap is that??? she's basically saying, "Hey, if you really want to avoid cervical cancer, quit letting yourself get raped so much, duh."
The HPV vaccine has been tested in over 11,000 females (9-26 years of age\in many countries around the world, including the United States (U.S).
These studies found that the HPV vaccine was safe and caused no serious side effects. Adverse events were mainly injection site pain. This reaction was common but mild.
A detailed and coordinated post-licensure safety monitoring plan is in place.
There is no thimerosal or mercury contained in the vaccine.
The efficacy of this vaccine has mainly been studied in young women (16-26 years of age) who previously had not been exposed to any of the four HPV types in the vaccine. These clinical trials have demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing cervical precancers caused by the targeted HPV types, and nearly 100% efficacy in preventing vulvar and vaginal precancers and genital warts caused by the targeted HPV types.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine-hcp.htm#overview
Thank-you for the link....
let me tell you-- next time i'm driving down 80, i'm totally spitting on the mokena highway sign.
it's amazingly ridiculous. i mean, how many people think that way?
cross the river to the eastside
It is a problem, and I cannot understand why it is controversial to require children to be vacinated. They are vaccinated for small pox, chicken pox, and other things, just add one more shot.
What harm is it to give these kids it while still young enough for it to be of any use.
Its easy to talk when you are not confronted with it...but that does not immune your kid from it in the future.
Anyone has to be both an idiot and ass to not understand this.
Someone wrote 60 to 70% will get HPV....why in the hell would anyone take that risk with their kids??? And it has to be given BEFORE they have sex. And these are probably the same idiots who think their kid won't have sex til 18 or so. Kids are having sex at 13, or maybe younger...yes your kid is having sex....shocker!!!!
HPV is prominent...it is likely if you have sex...you will get HPV.
F'ing immune these kids...save them!!!! If they don't have sex, no harn done.
I'm pretty sure that the research has been conducted very thoroughly over the past several years. I'm not aware of any issues concerning the safety or efficacy of the vaccine. The only issue are with idiots. If only there was a way to vaccinate against idiocy. . . .
-C Addison
- Kids are gonna be sexually active during their teen years one way or another, no matter if they're vaccinated for that cancer or not.
- The vaccine is most effective if given before 6th grade (11-12 years old). Waiting until your daughter is 18 is irresponsible. I also believe I saw an interview on the Today show last week where a doctor said that the vaccine may not be effective at all if given so late.
I think requiring the vaccine is a must. There are a lot of crazy people out there (trust me, I know quite a few..) who aren't really fit to be parents and wouldn't allow their daughters to get this because it has sexual connections. Those girls shouldn't have to suffer because of it.
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
Besides the kids are already getting vaccinated for Hepatitis B, which is also sexually transmitted.
http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54359 "Why not mandate condoms for boys?"
But the feminist in me says this mandated vaccine is patriarchal. After all, women already bear almost all the responsibility for sex-without-consequences. We're the ones who have to ingest birth control pills packed with female steroids, or transport that copper IUD with the weird vibes it sends throughout our uteruses and who knows where else, or insert that clumsy diaphragm, or wear those birth control patches that cause heart attacks. And then we end up pregnant anyway and have to get the abortions or raise the products of conception as single moms.
And now we're being asked to assume accountability for STDs, too? No.
So when the New York Post reported Feb. 16 that the city of New York has launched a campaign to distribute 26 million condoms during rush hour in subway stations, I had an idea.
Why not mandate that every 11-year-old boy carry a condom in his pocket?
she'd rather we risk girls' lives on condoms because it offends her feminist stance?? did i read that right??
pulease...i'm a mom first...i want my daughter to live a long n fruitful life. i wouldn't take a chance of her getting cervical cancer even if it meant i had to back down from my personal convictions. my daughter is worth so much more than my opinions/beliefs.
Say what? Viginity contracts? What the hell is that?
If its what it sounds like I'm adding it to my list of stupid things that could only be invented in America. Only a culture that obsessed with lawyers and sex could come up with something like that.
-C Addison
I don't care about "accountability" for STD's ... I'm not into assigning blame for things. I care about one thing, and one thing only, as far as this vaccine is concerned ... preventing people from getting cancer. I don't care what your values are, be they radical feminist or ultra-conservative, I don't care who is accountable for what, I don't care about birth control and abortions ... I just don't want women to die horrible, preventable deaths.
And how people can be so callous about their OWN DAUGHTERS simply astounds me! I'd rather have cancer for 100 years than watch my kids go through this.
She seems to have gotten a taste of blood from the exposure and has been suckling on the blood of the dead ever since; now her rantings seem to have nothing more to do with her limited ability to see beyond her own ego, probably affected by the affliction of being called "stanky" in high school, all the while remaining steadfastly virginal. Or not. "Look at me now, you fuckers, remember me? I'm good, good, good, better than you!" She's a 40-something living out her teen-dream fantasy of being popular.
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