Cervical Cancer is NOT a Family Value

Women who have sex should face deadly consequences, or at least, that's apparently the position of some republicans. So, now, we may have a cure for one of the primary causes of cervical cancer, HPV, but religious zealots who have found their way into the halls of power are "concerned" that the availability of the vaccine may encourage sexual promiscuity. This is, by the way, the same warped mentality behind attempts to limit access to birth control. I submit that their objections have nothing to do with curtailing male sexual behavior and everything to do with keeping women "in their place."

According to The Hill, Merck has developed a vaccine, Gardasil, that is 100% effective against common strains of human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer. Often, symptoms of HPV are silent, and even so, the virus can be transmitted. HPV is so common that some estimate that 50-75% of the sexually active population will be exposed to at least one strain of on the virus, and so common that a person can have few sexual partners and still contract the virus.

Yet, republicans like Dr. Reginald Finger (the former medical advisor to Focus on the Family) worry that if the FDA approves the vaccine, then the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices could issue guidelines that would undermine "the abstinence-only message." The ACIP has been considering this vaccine since 6/2005. I wonder how many women have become infected in that same time frame? I wonder if those "expressing concern" care? Democrats fear, and rightly so, that this vaccine is on the same bumpy road faced in trying to get emergency contraception approved as an over the counter drug. (Little tough to get "emergency" contraception when you have to first have a doctor's appointment and obtain a prescription.)

Women need to make their voices heard on this issue. The ACIP guidelines are important because they will be used by states to decide whether the vaccine will be among the services health insurance companies are mandated to cover. They are accepting comments until June 29th, and you can submit your written comments to:

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 CLifton Road, NE
MS E-05
Atlanta, Georgia 30333

Republicans may wish to consider getting control of their fringe elements that drive their agenda so far to the right most of us can't relate. Here's a news flash: women do vote, and while religious extremists are successful in getting some women to trumpet their cause, most women are offended by efforts to take away control of our own bodies. And, by the way, we know exactly what the game is really about. Whether it is through limiting access to contraception or, as in this case, making sure that if we choose to have sex we face potentially deadly consequences, be certain of one thing: this battle is not about morality: it's about POWER.

With attempts to further restrict abortion, efforts to restrict access to contraception and relaxation of insurance mandates, we have already seen this begin to play out in Georgia politics, and the time to stop it is now. When I read things like this I know why it is so critical that more democratic women find their way into elected office. In fact, how appropriate that we are having this discussion on the same day WIN List will announce our endorsed candidates. If you, like me, are tired of ploys for power that are wrapped in the flag and the Bible, then let's get behind these women who actually live their "family values."

Sphere: Related Content