There are already reasons to beware of Gardasil, the anti-Human Papilloma Virus drug sweeping the nation. The LAUSD, like countless other school districts, has mandated that young girls should be inoculated against HPV because, of course, it's assumed they'll all sleep around and contract cervical cancer as soon as they hit puberty. Never mind the health risks and side effects reported, being ignored by the powers-that-be. Well, here are more reasons to reject this artificial means of preventing a deadly disease (instead of practising preventance by just not having unprotected sex, period!). Presidential hopeful Rick Perry has been caught with a hand in the pharmaceutical cookie jar over this drug. The Texas Governor has committed an inexcuseable faux pas in his endorsement of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine Gardasil. By declaring his support for the drug on the basis of being pro-life, he has not only muddied the waters with his improper use of this philosophy, but has demonstrated a terrible lack of knowledge of the vaccine's dangers. First, let us examine his alleged pro-life stand. In order to court conservative voters, most of them religious people and bible-belt Christians, any Republican wannabe must come across as backing the anti-abortion platform. Has Perry, however, any clue as to what this actually involves? Merely ststing an opposition to termination of life-in-the-womb does not give him automatic authority to speak on behalf of constituents where other matters are concerned. The HPV issue, although it can be considered linked to the pro-life movement by virtue of the common denominator of sexual activity being involved with both pregnancy and the virus, is not one on which most of his target voting group will agree with him. Perry's failed effort, previously, to force all young girls to undergo vaccination with Gardasil will seriously violate the trust most conservatives have placed in his intentions. To mandate forced vaccination with this drug implies strongly that he believes all young females will, at some point, become prematurely sexually active (and most likely, pre-maritally)--not what most Christian parents want to hear from a candidate. Whereas a large number of families in religious communities endorse chastity of youth and strong urges of all to practise pre-marital abstinence, Perry has offered their values a slap in the face. Secondly, there is another extremely ugly matter raising its head: Governor Perry has been found to have accepted a nice, fat, juicy campaign contribution from Merck, the very manufacturer of Gardasil. Can we all say, "Oh, no, he screwed up big-time!" on that one? Does this make the man hoping to one day run the nation look like a crook? Does it make him look unprincipled, as if he would sell out the health and values of his people for money? Last and far from least in importance is the fact of Gardasil's safety track record. Frankly, it's bad and hushing it up by a blanket edndorsement and enforced use won't change that. Cases are being reported but not followed up on, are being ignored, are being swapped out as having other causes, of girls and women horribly sickened and even fdying from this drug. How many times have pharmaceuticasl companies hurried up the Food and Drug Administration to grant approval of their products, only to have them later recalled due to dangerous side effects? Has no one but the victims learned from the thalidomide tragedy? For more details on Gardasil injuries and deaths, see http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/gardasil.html In short, Angelenos: teach your daughters to avoid promiscuous sex in the first place. Many cervical cancers, by the way, are NOT related to HPV. Unprotected sex carries many more dangers, also, and is best avoided by young girls. Do you want your daughters playing with their very lives? Drugs like Gardasil are just too dangerous to trifle with. Voice your opinion to the LAUSD over this issue when you go to parent/teacher meetings.
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