Should the Cervical Cancer Vaccine for Girls Be Compulsory? Term Paper

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Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Cervical cancer will usually transpire when abnormal cell found within cervix grow out of control. However, when cervical is identified in its early stages it can be successfully treated. Through the help of Pap test this cervical cancer can be identified. Majority of cervical cancer tend to be caused by virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). An individual can easily get HPV when they have sexual contact with an individual who already have it. Different types of HPV virus exists and all these types never cause cervical cancer. While some of them cause genital warts, others may not even cause any symptom.

Many states have mandated vaccine for cervical cancer in girls and we all agree that this shot that is to protect against cancer sound like a brilliant idea. However, it is of importance for us to think carefully before putting this vaccine mandatory for our young girls. Cervical cancer is not measles or polio diseases that may be transmitted easily through casual contact, (Mayo Clinic staff, 2013). Moreover, we have already become aware on ways of preventing cervical cancer in our nation, and so far a good job has been done. Regarding war against cancer, the fight against this cervical cancer has proved to be of success.

What are the reasons then as to why federal health officials went ahead to recommend the inoculation of approximately 30 million American girls as well as our young women against the human papillomavirus, which has been known as a sexual transmitted disease that in some occasion causes cervical cancer. According to those who support the vaccine argue that about 3,700 American women meet their death out of cervical cancer every year, and a proximately 10,000 cases are somehow diagnosed. Looking at it, cervical cancer has a comparatively high survival rate, nevertheless each death is tragic and treatment is capable of robbing our women their fertility.

Considering the number in the context, deaths occurring as a result of cervical cancer have dropped consistently in the entire United States. The extent of drop as among the top killer diseases of American women has reduced extensive that it does not appear even on the top 10 list. Currently cervical cancer is going to represent 1% only of the 679,510 fresh cases of cancer as well as 1% of the 273,560 cancer anticipated deaths within our American women. This is in contrast to the 40,970 victims of breast cancer who are to face their death, as well as the 72,130 victims of lung cancer awaiting their death.

American Cancer Society Web site did their research and found that the number of deaths from cervical cancer in 1955 and 1992 within United States significantly dropped by 74%. Figure that have been indicated as diagnosis and deaths for every year have further dropped inspite of the growing population, (Yesha Callahan, 2012).

According to revelation of the government Web site that tracks trends of cancer, known as SEER, cases of cervical cancer in the United State in 1997 to 2003 went down by 4.5% every year, and the cases of deaths went down by 3.8% per year. However the rest of the cancers have continued to be on rise. In case the current trend goes on like this then 30 years coming will see diagnosed cervical cancer drop to even few thousand cases in women as well as approximately 1,000 deaths or lesser every year, even if there is no use of vaccine.

The secret behind non-use of vaccine is the Pap smear. It is a test which is simple, fast, and somehow noninvasive that is always a routine preventive health care for women. There are initial warnings in terms of cellular changes within the cervix that tend to be precursors for cancer and they have their treatment.

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One of the spokesmen from American Cancer Society confirmed that many of the American women who nowadays contract cervical cancer tend to be women who have never undergone Pap smear or failed to follow the usual guidelines and follow-up. Therefore, to some extent this public money to be used for vaccine priced at $360 for the three shot series and falling under the most expensive ever done, could be instead redirected to ensure that every woman receive preventive health care in the United States. This is because even if there is new vaccine that protects women from some viral strains that facilitates occurrence of cervical cancer, these women are still required to go on with getting Pap smears.

Apart from the American women, we have many other hundred of women world wide who have died from cervical cancer just because they have not had a chance of accessing Pap smears as well as the required follow-up. Such cases together with high risked American women should have the vaccine as option. Black, Hispanic as well as some foreign women tend to be at higher risk, however this rate have gone down significantly on the part of the blacks. Some of the high risk associated behaviors include eating poorly, smoking, long-term use of pills, and having multiple sexual partners. Nevertheless, majority who get infected with the human papillomavirus clear it by themselves.

Supporters of the vaccine, American Cancer Society amongst them, argue that immunization reduces abnormal results of Pap test, and painful treatments, and cost of follow-up procedures, and stress or discomfort. This is a very strong argument for the vaccine. However, we should keep in mind that vaccine carry risks. Recently, our children have undergone various new immunizations, and their full long-term implications still have not been known, (Cynthia Dailard, 2006). Remember, RotaShield went in the market for a year and was removed in 1999 though was approved for infants.

According to the tests of Merck regarding cervical cancer vaccine in clinical trial using more than 20,000 women, approximately half of them received the shot. These subjects' health became followed for nearly three and a half years on average. Yet less than 1,200 girls who are under 16 received the shots, only1000, 9 years of age were among them, the younger girls became followed for 18 months.

Officials of public health wants to subject girls to vaccination early, prior to them becoming sexually active, without knowing the duration that immunity may take. Nevertheless, girls are able to protect themselves from the human papillomavirus by use of condoms, according to a recent study condoms cut infections by more than a half. Therefore, we should stamp out cervical cancer by making sure that all girls as well as women get Pap smears.

Without giving instruction on its use, a section of private hospitals tend to promote different brands of HPV vaccine and they go ahead to include them compulsory vaccine schedule. Which could be of danger to our girls. This was true in 2010 when the vaccine was withdrawn because of the six deaths which were reported. According to that report, the vaccine was administered hurriedly and it was unethically used. Even though this ban was lifted later, the vaccine is still yet to enter compulsory vaccination schedule. This vaccine is always administered to girls who are between age of 11 and 26 years. It works by putting a shield against cervical cancer and it has been believed to be not effective when given to sexually active women. Even senior medics are worried that as much as they may be eager to sell the vaccine, there may be an attempt by the private establishment to mislead patient, with some medics indicating that they have been overwhelm with inquiries if it has already been made compulsory.

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