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The commercials are every where. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked as allegedly being the cause of cervical cancer in women. We all know, now days, how many women a year die from having cervical cancer. It's a big threat and one that apparently they've come up with a vaccine for.

It is being recommended that we give the human papillomavirus vaccine to our daughters around the age of 12 years old. The medical profession states that introducing the vaccine before the onset of sexual behavior ensures its success. This suggestion is striking up a massive controversy over this particular round of shots. There are 3 shots given total in six month intervals. It's preventing one of the deadliest cancers for women, I don't see the controversy here.

Some parents are afraid that giving their daughters this shot will send them a false message of "it's ok" and bring about promiscuity in young girls. I'm sorry, but if they are going to have sex they are just going to do it. Some parents say that their children aren't at risk any how, so why breach a difficult subject with a girl so young. Everybody is at risk. Your child will eventually end up having sex, like it or not. Other parents are simply taken aback by the very thought of breaching this difficult of a conversation, period. I've heard some say they believe it to be inappropriate at that age'. When did you plan on talking to your daughters/children about sex? When it's too late and they are pregnant, or worse, have an STD? It's too scary out there for parents to stick their head in the sand these days and assume their child will be safe' and they will talk to them when it's time'. You don't even have to tell your daughter what the shot is a vaccine for. Don't they get vaccinated all of their lives? It's not like this is an eyebrow raising experience.

I don't think there is a question. If this is something that is going to get CDC recognition and it is going to prevent cervical cancer from one of this sometimes silent STD called human papillomavirus, then what the hell is more important that protecting my child's future health? Isn't that why we give them vaccinations to begin with? Polio kills. Yet we have no problem getting Polio vaccinations when we're told to in order to protect our child from getting the disease.

If you had, or if you have now, daughters that were at the age recommended for receiving this vaccination, would you give it to your daughter?

Learn more about this author, Mary Martir.
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