HPV Vaccine: Mandatory?

[blueangel]

I think you're missing my point. My point is that this vaccine has only been out a short time. It's too soon to know what the side effects will be. I find the 3 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome quite disturbing... even one would cause me to be concerned.

The cardiac side effects of Vioxx didn't become known to the public until people had died. I think we need to take a "wait and see" with this vaccine.

[UGAalum94]

Or at least a wait and see attitude before we mandate it?

Lobbying and advertising isn't a problem for me. Successful lobbying to remove individual choice before an item has even been introduced for public consideration? That's scary.

(Again, if it's something folks can pretty easily opt out of, it's not the end of the world. But it's the kind of nanny state crap I hate. If we have a vaccine that prevents cancer, we ought to get people to get the vaccine because they want to avoid cancer, not because they want to go to 7th grade.)

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by blueangel

I think you're missing my point. My point is that this vaccine has only been out a short time. It's too soon to know what the side effects will be. I find the 3 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome quite disturbing... even one would cause me to be concerned.

The cardiac side effects of Vioxx didn't become known to the public until people had died. I think we need to take a "wait and see" with this vaccine.

See, here's the thing...to wait and see, people still need to have the vaccination done. So it makes no difference either way. I just don't think it should be mandated. The last mandated vaccine I got (MMR) made me really sick and had me off school for two weeks. Yeah, I was the 1 in 100,000.
Also this isn't like the swine flu, the epidemic that never happened-people have HPV and cervical cancer now so it's a bit different. You're right to be cautious but also remember, with respect, that you're out of the recommended age range to receive it anyway.

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by centaur532

See, here's the thing...to wait and see, people still need to have the vaccination done. So it makes no difference either way. I just don't think it should be mandated. The last mandated vaccine I got (MMR) made me really sick and had me off school for two weeks. Yeah, I was the 1 in 100,000.
Also this isn't like the swine flu, the epidemic that never happened-people have HPV and cervical cancer now so it's a bit different. You're right to be cautious but also remember, with respect, that you're out of the recommended age range to receive it anyway.

We're on the same page.. sort of. I'm happy this vaccine is available to those who want it. The key words being "want it." At this point, it's been out too short of a time for me to feel comfortable with it. If I had a daughter, I would not have her vaccinated, but take a "wait and see" attitude.

For those who are over age 18 and are within the age group-- you certainly can choose to have the vaccine if you feel comfortable. But FORCING parents to vaccinate their kids with something that has only been on the market for a few months, has been aggressively marketed to politicians.. just sends up too many red flags for me.