So get a load of this article from ABC news. The FDA recently voted to endorse a new vaccine that prevents the virus that causes 70% of all cervical cancer and genital warts, also known as HPV, or the human papilloma virus. Merck, the company that manufactures the vaccine says that it will work on girls as young as 9, and that it should be a part of a list of shots pre-teen girls are required to have. Sounds reasonable right?

Not to fundamentalist Christian groups like Focus on the Family. A spokesperson for that group said, "This is a disease that's sexually transmitted. Because of that, this is a very personal subject and we feel parents should make that decision for their children." Basically their take on the subject is that providing a vaccine for an STD will send a message to their children that "you can be as sexually promiscuous as you want."

These people are crazy. Like one of the experts in the article says, giving kids bicycle helmets hasn't made them take more risks on their bikes. Plus, if they receive the vaccine at age 9, they probably won't even know what the shot is for. Do you remember all the shots you had as a kid and what they were for? I just can't believe that some people are willing to risk their children's health and life rather than risk them becoming "sexually promiscuous".

Categories: Opinion