WaPo gives gives it to us straight in an article published yesterday:
"A new vaccine that protects against cervical cancer has set up a clash between health advocates who want to use the shots aggressively to prevent thousands of malignancies and social conservatives who say immunizing teenagers could encourage sexual activity."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
More below the fold
This vacine protects against certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus which have been found to cause more than 95% of all cervical cancers.
I'll step out right now and tell you I've been diagnosed with this awful disease and told it's incurable. This vacine comes too late for women like me, but I sure as shit believe that vaccinating pre-pubescent girls against HPV sits right up there with vaccinations against measles, chickenpox and mumps. Ah, duh!
So now there's another fucking fight against the Dobson facists, one of whom, according to WaPo, sits on the federal panel that will make policy on this vaccines public useage. Bush has been stacking agencies like this for five years. If they win here, thousands of deaths will result and FEMA will look like child's play.
In September while we were sleeping, Susan Wood, the FDA's assistant commissioner for women's health and director of the Office of Women's Health, announced her resignation, citing concerns that the FDA had overruled scientific and clinical evidence in refusing to approve Plan B (levonorgestrel) for use without a prescription. The decision not to provide Plan B over the counter continues to limit women's access to a product that would reduce unintended pregnancies and reduce abortions.
Now we have the same assholes arguing that providing a life-saving vaccine will undermine their abstinence only agenda. Jesus Christ! Has anyone read Atwood's "HandMaid's Tale"?
I hate having a new fight every morning as much as you do, but if we sleep through this one there will be more blood on our hands. Please recommend and start the LTEs NOW!