There isn't any way that people will stop having sex. While we all know that abstinence can prevent teen or unwanted pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases -- even the emergence of HIV / AIDS did not stop people from having sex.
The HPV vaccine should be available to all girls and women who want to take an extra step in protecting themselves from the risk of HPV symptoms and cervical cancer. Acceptance of the vaccine is important and must not be considered something that is justifying promiscuity -- rather, it is important to remember that nearly all people who are sexually active will get HPV at some point in their lives. If we consider this, making the HPV vaccine a normal preventative measure isn't just common sense, but it is the only responsible action that a country can take in ensuring the health of its citizens.
The HPV vaccine -- Gardasil -- can be given to girls as young as 9 and 10 years of age, however, it is recommended for girls who are between the ages of 11 and 12 as well as women between the ages of 13 and 26. Ideally, one would want to get vaccinated before her first sexual experience, but women who have not yet come into HPV contact who have had sexual intercourse already will also benefit from the vaccine. The New England Journal of Medicine (Haug, 2008) notes that there have been very promising results in clinical trials and the two vaccines created have been for the most important "oncogenic strains (i.e., the HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes) (2008). With reports such as this, there is not reason for all women...
Preventing 70% of all HPV-related cervical cancers and most cases of genital warts is one of the most revolutionary medical advancements in recent history and it is believed that men will soon be able to benefit from the vaccine as well. In the fall of 2009, a health panel ruled that the HPV vaccine -- Gardasil -- "would safely protect males from HPV, which causes genital warts and rare cancers in men" (CBC 2009). There needs to be education concerning the vaccine and its benefits, which are too many to deny. Covering the costs of HPV vaccines for all women and girls who want it will save the Canadian health care system money in the long run as well as protect the overall well-being of the nation's women and girls -- and men in the future.
