HPV vaccination in schools

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Quote: Catholic school board to vote on HPV vaccine

A Toronto school board is set to vote on whether to allow public health nurses to give its young students a vaccine against HPV, a common sexually transmitted disease linked to cervical cancer.

The Ontario government is offering the human papilloma virus vaccine to all Grade 8 girls, but some catholic school boards have questioned whether the program promotes sexual activity among teens.

Late Tuesday night, the Halton Catholic District School Board narrowly voted to approve use of the vaccine.

But Ontario's Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board has already instituted a ban on the program, and the Toronto District Catholic School Board is expected to vote on the issue Wednesday.

Toronto board chair Oliver Carroll said "you can't bury your head in the sand," and said the vaccines are not a green light for premarital sex.

"I will leave it to the parents and the daughter to sort out their ethics, but in the meantime I believe we have an obligation to give them the protection they may need," he said.

A letter from Ontario's conference of Bishops had urged the Halton board not to make the vaccine available to its students on religious grounds.

"Infection with HPV or other sexually transmitted diseases can occur only through sexual activity, which carries with it profound risks to a young person's spiritual, emotional, moral and physical health," they wrote.

"The Bishops note that, at best, a vaccine can only be potentially effective against one of these risks, that to physical health, and may have other unintended and unwanted consequences."

The HPV vaccine is effective against 70 per cent of cervical cancers. And according estimates by the Canadian Cancer Society, 1,350 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year in Canada and 390 will die of the disease.

Health Canada estimates that up to 75 per cent of sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said the Halton and Toronto board's reluctance to vaccinate its students shows an emerging ideological division in Ontario's public education system.

But he said the vaccines could still be given to students through the public health system.

"Ultimately ... we're going to deliver this through public health,'' he said Tuesday in Crosby, Ont. "I think in an ideal world, we'd rather do it through the schools because it's simpler and more convenient for parents and for kids.

"But, you know, if we run into a lot of resistance from a particular school board, we can -- we've already thought this through -- we can do it through public health."

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, currently campaigning against McGuinty for the October 10 election, said the school board should take advantage of the free vaccine program.

"I would like to hope all school boards will co-operate in making sure these vaccines are available and that if there is anybody who doesn't want to have the vaccine, that's a parental decision as opposed to a school board decision," he said in Belleville, Ont.

So, I know most of you ladies don't live in Ontario, Canada, but as women, I think this is an issue that's relevant to all of us.

Where do you stand on HPV vaccinations in schools?

C.

Do the schools give other vaccines? I know the schools around here do not have anything to do with vaccinations, the students are on their own to receive them. If they give all vaccinations, then I see nothing wrong with them offering one more. But if they do not offer any other shots, then they shouldn't be offering this one either.

I think that if I ever have a girl, I would like her to receive this vaccine, if only as a precaution, if she wants it. Just like I will put her on b.c. if she wants. At 8th grade, students are old enough to make a decision about this. Inform the children, educate them on what this is for, and let them make a decision based on what they learn.

WTH? I don't see this as promoting premarital sex. They could use that argument for sex-ed as well...
My daughter will get this shot either way as soon as she is old enough. Not that I want or expect her to have intercourse at that age; but if she does, at least she is protected. Just as I will teach her about the various other protections.
Or as my dad put it once,"I can't prevent you from doing it, but I can make sure that you are as informed as possible. We could deal with a teenage pregnancy, but it would kill me if you'd catch HIV or any other STD because we didn't educate you enough!"

Ellie

I wish they would have offered it when I was in school, I would have gotten it.

I would have gotten it too. Plus I see it as a way of saving lives. It should be optional whether to accept it when it's offered.

They offered vaccines in my schools.

I think it should be up to the parent. But as long as the parent gives consent I don't see why they would have a problem with this type of vaccine.

I understand that they may think it promotes sexual behaviour, but IMO it's better to be safe than sorry. Teenagers are going to find a way to have sex if they want to. It has nothing to do with a shot.

The vaccine more focuses on preventing cervical cancer which you get from HPV...they advertise it here in the states more as a cervical cancer vaccination.

personally I think it is a good idea.

and here I recall controversy about sex ed in schools when they handed out condoms...as it could be promoting sex.
I think that would promote sex more than an HPV shot...because i can see teenagers going around saying hey I got a condom..i won't get pregnant or get an STD let's have sex......more so than...hey I got the HOV shot...i can have sex now.

that's a lame argument.

Cary, there are many states here that are already making this vaccine mandatory for girls as young as 8 years old and up.

Personally, I am adamantly against anything that is required like this. This vaccine has not done enough research trials for my liking. It's too damn new.

My 8 year old is not at risk for HPV.

And the "preventing cervical cancer" stamp the vaccine companies and advertisers are putting on this vaccine is a smoke screen, ladies. Please do not be fooled.

i think HPV vaccinations should be required. only because many people don't seem informed on the subject so i'm afraid they wouldn't do it for their children if they didn't have to! you have a chance to actually prevent an STI and cancer?! well fucking do it! haha

my older sister didn't want to get it for her daughter because of a bunch of nonsense reasons. i think she said something about it incouraging sexual activity and not being safe (psh yeah right) but i remember getting TONS of vaccines as a child and i never once stopped to ask what it was for and how that disease is transmitted. i just knew it must be bad if i need a shot for it LoL

we finally talked her into getting it for my neice. i wish it would have been around when i was younger =/ i do not qualify for it an that makes me sad! and i don't believe it is just a smoke screen. i've testing positive for HPV and had pre cancerous cells and had to be monitored very closely. it was a scary ordeal! and i know tons of other ladies who have been through the same. HPV wouldn't be such a big deal if it wasn't linked with cervical cancer.

oh i just wanted to add i remember when i started having sex (way too young mind you) and catching a disease or getting pregnant were the LAST things on my mind! i know those are things all responsible people should think about....but most young teens aren't responsible and like to think "it will never happen to me"

so i don't think sex ed or any preventative measures promote having sex. the people who have sex while being informed and safe would have had sex either way.

I know I'm buying condoms for Colin the moment I even think he's thinking about having sex.

I'm gonna talk to him honestly about it, and tell him I hope he waits until he's really ready, but I can't stop him and I don't want anything happening.

I'd rather him have sex at 13 with a condom (*cry*) than without one at any age.

C.

Ive never heard of schools offering vaccines. But i personally dont see a problem with it being offered. As of right now, i would NOT let my daughter get it. It's too new... By the time she is 14 or so things may be different. After they've had time to fully test it and see the long term affects, then id consider it, but not right now.

However, I know that shot is expensive. It's a 3 course deal over a span of 6 months and costs around 600 dollars. I dont know if that's per shot, or total. Either way, it's really expensive.

I think school should request it.At 19 years old i found out i pre cancerous cells due to pre hpv. That was the scariest thing that has ever happen to me. It was not like i was a slut or anything but it happened. Good new mine cleared up by it self but i always think what if it did not.I would be 20 with cancer.My children will be saved this. Because my girls will be vaccinated. Teenagers will have sex no matter what and i will make my kids safe.

I think it's a great idea! Any parent that pulls the "it promotes premarital sex" crap is just being naive. Whenever I hear someone talk about preventing their children from having sex or have it stuck in their heads that their kids just won't, I have to shake my head.   Face it, they're going to do it whether you like it or not so we might as well do what we can to help protect them from at least one danger. I just wish they would have had this when I was in school. A few years ago I had a routine pap smear done and found out that I had pre-cancerous changes of the cervix. Sure enough, it turned out that I had hpv. I never thought this could happen to me since I had only been with 2 men in my life and they were both serious relationships. It shocked me to find out how common and easily spread it is because most people never develop any symptoms at all. I know I didn't. Over the past 2 years I've been monitored very closely and have had 2 biopsies done to be sure it hasn't progressed to cancer. If there is anything I can do to prevent my daughters from going through what I have, then you're damn straight I'm going to do it!

oh screw it...anyone wonder why the hep b vaccination is perfectly acceptable, it affects both men AND women...
but hpv is no go...

double standards..tisk tisk.