HPV Vaccine Controversy

The upcoming approval of Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against HPV, is sparking up controversy nationwide.

The vaccine was 100% effective in preventing two strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer in clinical trials and 99% effecting against two HPV strains that cause genital warts. With minimal side effects like injection site soreness, how can the HPV vaccine be so controversial?

The HPV Vaccine Controversy

The HPV vaccine is controversial for a variety of reasons:

• Many groups feel that the HPV vaccine will encourage promiscuity among young people.
  
• Many parents are angered over the thought of immunizing their pre-teen daughters against a sexual transmitted disease.
  
• There is a common misconception that the HPV vaccine protects against all types of HPV. Parents are concerned that their children will be misinformed and think they are being protected.
  
• Many parents believe that their children are not at risk for developing HPV.

Why We Need an HPV Vaccine

HPV is more than common than many think. According to the CDC, more than 20 million people are infected with HPV. 80% of women are infected by the time they turn 50. Even more startling, more than 50% of sexually active people have HPV.