Bishops in the province are warning about “serious moral implications” due to offering the HPV vaccine for all children. They argue that, since the disease itself is sexually transmitted, there is a risk that vaccinating everyone for it would encourage sexual activity.
The people who advocate for the introduction of the vaccine argue that it has nothing to do with sexual activity, but instead an effort to reduce cancer rates. HPV is closely linked to cervical and throat cancer, and the two types of HPV that are linked to cancer are also preventable if vaccinated.
The bishops don’t really have a leg to stand on with this one. HPV can be spread by any transfer of bodily fluid, so they’re putting people at risk of contracting it; even if they’re completely abstinent there is still a chance of an HPV infection due to contact with bodily fluids. Statistically, 75 to 80 per cent of Canadians could contract the disease. Since it’s preventable with vaccination, it’s something that needs to be done.
A vaccination makes these kids safer as they grow into adults. The existence of HPV isn't going to have any effect on the sexual activity of teenagers. Teenagers typically do a wide range of activities that might cause damage in the future, from listening to music at high volume to doing stunts to impress their friends which lead to broken arms. You’re not going to sell abstinence with HPV; the risks are too remote. As a result, stopping them from getting the vaccine is the immoral option, not preventing it. They might think that the risk of getting an infection as a deterrent for sexual activities, especially one that can lead to cancer, in reality teens don't consider the risks to themselves very often.
This really has very little to do with young people, even though they are vaccinated when they are children. The reason for vaccinating when they are young is to get them well before they are actually at risk. This doesn't encourage them to do anything; as pre-teens they barely know what HPV is and why they should care. So let's not kill them in the future with inaction.
The compassionate among us don’t want to see someone die of cancer. The compassionless don’t want to pay for someone going through cancer treatment. Preventing cancer should be the one thing everyone in the world can agree on. So let’s vaccinate for HPV.
