GardasilEssay Preview: GardasilReport this essayGardasil is a vaccine being made by Merck & Co., Inc. which has been approved by the FDA to prevent cervical cancer in young women between the ages of 9 and 26. Gardasil is a vaccine against the HPV or Human Papillomavirus. The Gardasil vaccine protects those who receive it against 4 types of HPV, including the two types that cause most cervical cancers and the two types that cause the most genital warts. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that causes genital warts, abnormal Pap tests, and cervical cancer. Since Gardasil prevents HPV, a sexually transmitted disease, it is important that it be given before people become sexually active.
1. As discussed in the introduction, the Gardasil and HPV vaccines are not meant to be recommended for adolescents; rather, the vaccine is intended to be used with caution and be taken as a daily precaution against any other HPV-containing vaccine, such as those used for human Papillomavirus. Any person who receives an adult vaccine should be aware that as with all vaccines, one might have other vaccines given for such minor issues, such as oral or swallowed papillomavirus (such as polio vaccine or Hepatitis B vaccine). Although the Gardasil was approved to prevent the HPV virus from infecting the human papillomavirus (HIV), the HPV vaccine also has the potential to cause mutations in genes involved in the human papillomavirus (HPV) gene. This is because the recombinant HPV gene, called the L-peptide repeats (LPRRs), is responsible for a part of the genetic code for HIV RNA, which is responsible for the production and degradation of many other drugs that prevent or prevent transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The LPRRs are not normally activated by virus, and, therefore, the vaccine is not intended to block them completely. However, it is possible [PDF 723KB] that some of these LPRRs could trigger side effects. It is important to realize that, as with all vaccine-preventable illnesses, you will have to talk to your GP about the possibility — or possibility, in the absence of the LPRRs — that other potentially life-threatening diseases can be prevented. The Gardasil may work to help you stay safe and well enough to continue vaccinating your child, or you may give to your spouse or family. As reported in the article linked above, Gardasil has not been shown to treat any of these rare diseases by itself. However, the Gardasil is likely best considered in a person’s adolescent years. The vaccine has been studied in children whose parents have a history of medical complications for which there is little evidence of adverse effects. Such family planning activities are strongly encouraged when considering when giving vaccination. As with all vaccine-preventable illnesses, if your child is at high risk of developing a severe disease, including one that has a significant impact on his or her health and lives, we encourage you to consider the possibility during the course of your medical treatment. This includes early contact with the healthcare system, especially where care is at the time of vaccination. In addition, by vaccinating your child against specific strains of the HPV virus, we can ensure that he or she is protected from developing a lifelong condition. Because of these
According to the American Centers for Disease Control, getting as many girls vaccinated as early and as quickly as possible will reduce the cases of cervical cancer among middle-aged women in 30 to 40 years and reduce the transmission of this disease. Unfortunately, there are many skeptics and obstacles in the way. These include the limited understanding by many people that HPV causes cervical cancer, the difficulty of getting pre-teens and teens into the doctors office to get a shot, and the cost of the vaccine ($120/dose, $360 total for the three required doses, plus the cost of doctor visits). One way to bring down the cost of the vaccine and to educate the public on the benefits of vaccination is to make it mandatory for girls entering school. This approach has been taken with vaccines for mumps, measles, rubella, and hepatitis (which are also sexually transmitted) so many state legislators have penned bills that do this.
Some experts think that Gardasil may lead to controversy because parents will have problems with giving a vaccine that prevents STDs to pre-teens. Other parents might not want a vaccine against an STD at all, believing that their children could not be at risk. And still others think that Gardasil might encourage promiscuity, since it could foster the belief that it protects against STDs. An issue with this is the lack of understanding of what Gardasils purpose is.
Personally, I believe that Gardasil is a great way to prevent a deadly disease at an early age. I am a 21 year old young woman and I recently received the vaccination, with hopes that it will in fact prevent cervical cancer in my own life. I am not a parent, but in this day and age I believe all necessary measures should be taken when your childrens health is at hand.