2011-02-03, 08:39 PM
TaliaNCo Wrote:For instance, the Gardasil vaccine. Now that one was put in place to help prevent cancer. Since cancer isn't contagious, why would states try to make it mandatory? It hasn't been available for too many years so, in my opinion, hasn't really been tested enough to see if there will be any long lasting effects that could arise from it. I understand the concept behind it but I am not willing to give it to my teenage daughters and take a gamble either. I realize that cancer can strike at any age but typically cervical cancer strikes those who are considered elderly. That particular vaccine has also supposedly helped prevent some penile and anal cancers. So why aren't they trying to make it mandatory for boys? Just because cervical cancer is a much more common cancer than anal or penile cancer is irrelevant in my opinion.
My mom is also very against my getting the Gardasil vaccine. Honestly, aside from Gardasil and the seasonal flu vaccine, I'm completely vaccinated. Before the H1N1 vaccination was available in my area locally, I contracted swine flu. I had had the seasonal flu (again, the vaccine was slow in my area) and another flu-like virus before the swine flu that same month. So, I was already quite weak from fighting off two prior infections when I got H1N1. It was pretty rough, and as bad as people say it is, but I got over it just fine. I often get flu-like viruses during the flu season. I just had some sort of flu last month, and I was tested for the seasonal flu (They do that to children? It was oh so very uncomfortable...), and it was negative. Anyways, the lack of flu vaccines really does cause higher numbers of sick children in schools, and a sicker populace in general. Vaccines really do some good, and can only do more good if more people opt to take them.
I have a feeling that some people participating in this argument don't actually know how vaccinations work. Here are some videos for for further information; a video that will help people understand how vaccines work and one that relates to the current discussion.
Spoiler