HPV Vaccine: Mandatory?

[blueangel]

Centaur.. I was responding to this:

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

...and a number of the companies doing vaccines today weren't even around then.

[UGAalum94]

I think we should all just be aware of what is known, what the testing included, and make the best decisions we can with the help of our doctors.

While Blueangel's point about harmful "medicine" is worth considering (there have been FDA approved drugs on the market that did serious harm to people; it doesn't make sense to deny it.), I'm sure we can all think of vaccines and treatments that we are glad that we have access to.

I don't think any state has any business requiring this vaccine for school attendance, but I think if the vaccine can deliver on expectations, young women should get it before they become sexually active. Perhaps rather than spending money lobbying states to require the vaccine, Merck should focus it's advertising at teens and get states to subsidize it the cost at health departments.

[PeppyGPhiB]

blueangel, I was not discounting the more recent examples you gave. I specifically replied (using the quote function) to your point about the swine flu.

Vaccines of today and in the future are largely based on bioscience/biotechnology, just as cancer treatments are, and biotechnology did not really start to take off until the past few decades as we've gained access to more complex technology and manufacturing techniques.

Please try to keep in mind that the vast majority of drugs and biotherapies approved in this country do wonders for people's health and quality of life. EVERY drug has side-effects, even the Tylenol people take for headaches. Aspirin, which actually helps the heart health of some people, can seriously harm others. Patients and their doctors must consider the benefits vs. risks in every medication they put in their body, and it's the truth that in most instances, the benefits outweigh the risks.