Get your kids vaccinated for HPV.
Rep. Negele (1-800-382-9841) has introduced HB 1278 concerning cervical cancer protection. The bill has passed out of committee and gone through second reading today.
It directs the State Department of Health to develop a strategic plan to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. In particular, this means getting more people vaccinated against the human papilloma virus. But, it also means identifying barriers to effective prevention, screening, and treatment; and creating awareness of the problem.
The bill directs the Department to work with IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, and the Family and Social Services Administration. It suggests but does not require work groups that include a variety of types of individuals including physicians, health care providers, cervical cancer survivors, epidemiologists, and representatives of geographic areas at higher risk for cervical cancer.
The recommended work groups would also potentially include a member of faith based organizations. That initially struck me as an odd group to include in a health initiative, but then it occurred to me that a lot of the resistance to HPV vaccinations has come from faith based organizations. (I believe there is a belief that, because HPV is sexually transmitted, vaccination is tantamount to condoning sexual activity). One study showed:
Parents with frequent attendance at religious services were more likely than parents who do not attend services to have decided against vaccination (vs. being undecided)
If religion is correlated with less vaccination, then it makes sense that having input from members of religious communities might be what’s needed to overcome the resistance that seems to be present.
The bill also requests information about the costs of cervical cancer in the state. That’s probably smart because there is naturally a resistance to spending money. But sometimes that resistance can be penny-wise and pound foolish.
I believe this is why:
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As far as resistance, I doubt it can be overcome. The above shows some people don’t even want to be educated.
Any time Micah Clark opposes something it is very easy to see that it is something to support.
Studies show that the two biggest hurdles to HPV vaccine uptake are doctors not treating it as a routine vaccine to prevent multiple cancers and parents lack of knowledge your child can die from an HPV caused cancer. My wife Brenda and I know….we lost our 23 year old daughter Kristen to HPV caused cervical cancer. Get educated and get your children vaccinated NOW!