HPV vaccine

It is no secret that women of color—specifically Black and Latina women—are at greatest risk of cervical cancer. Ending cervical cancer will be no easy task. Great strides can be made by taking a multi-level approach to the problem, which includes expanding knowledge, empowering Black women to make their health a priority, and continued advocacy efforts.

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Last year research linking vaccines to autism was debunked as a complete fabrication.  Now a new study shows that the HPV vaccine does not cause promiscuity. There are no excuses left.  Parents have an obligation to society to vaccinate their children.  Not doing so is selfish.

The war cry of the GOP (Grand Old Puritans) is that the HPV vaccine is a license for public fornication. This is how they rally their financial base. I get that, but the press doesn’t have to take the bait. It only becomes a story if the press makes it so.

Diseases such as diabetes and cancer cause tens of millions of deaths each year, many of which are premature. Once the burden of rich countries, these non-communicable diseases are increasingly affecting individuals in low- and middle-income countries where they impose heavy burdens on already fragile health systems. Among the most deadly—and preventable—of these diseases is cervical cancer.

Today, a CDC advisory committee recommended that the HPV vaccine become a routine part of health care for 11-year-old boys as well as girls. Public and political reaction to this could serve as an interesting gauge of our double standard when it comes to adolescents and sex. 

On Sunday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law which allows minors to access STD-prevention services, including the now highly political HPV vaccine, without parental consent.

 Elyse Anders puts the anti-HPV vaccine controversy in context. Pro-choicers in Maryland come up with an inventive strategy to fight back, and the 1 in 3 campaign highlights women's stories about abortion.

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 Jay Rosen deconstructs the "he said/she said" journalism NPR applied to a story on abortion access. NPR covers the anti-contraception movement in Texas, and Bachmann's ignorant comments on HPV inspire some responsible medical journalism.

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Michele Bachmann's been all over the place making comically outrageous claims about the supposed dangers of the HPV vaccine.  Will her behavior shed light on the more serious problem of people having vague, unarticulated fears of the vaccine?

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 The joys and obstacles facing the female music nerd are discussed with Courtney Smith. Mainstream media clues into the war on contraception, and Michele Bachmann goes on the warpath against the HPV vaccine.

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