May (Patcharin) Weng

Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination (HPV)

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) disease is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV can be transmitted through blood via any small cuts, tears, lesion or abrasions (Staff). The viruses spread throughout the body by attacking healthy cells and recoding their genetic structure, thus forcing them to produce more viral cells (Hunter). There are other HPV related cancer that could also appear at the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and throat (Genital HPV Infection). The Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination (HPV) prevents the consequences of this disease from happening. The two HPV vaccinations that are currently being used are Gardasil and Cervarix. Both of these vaccinations protect against HPV-16 and HPV-18 which causes 70% cervical cancer, 80% anal cancer, 60% vaginal cancer and 40% of vulvar cancer. Gardasil also protects against HPV-6 and HPV-11 which causes 90% genital warts (HPV Vaccine). Although the HPV vaccination may protect against the diseases, Michele Bachman, an American Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, claims that the vaccination has side effects that causes mental retardation to the young girls (Melnick). Vaccines have history within our culture as a whole and this history carries both positive and negative points of view. The points of view that society carries about vaccines as a whole are born both out of facts and fears. The facts are a handful of vaccines that really have had bad side effects and the fear is whenever people have heard about the negative side effects, they may become irrationally concerned. As for the HPV vaccination, people also have different cultural and social viewpoints like how it may lead to younger people engaging in more sexual activities, yet also protecting from different types of cancer. The HPV vaccination protects against viral infections. Scientists and investigators made a conjecture that the HPV vaccine creates an anti-body that protects the body against the infection. The HPV surface constituent forms with one another and creates virus-like particles (VLP) but the VLP are not infectious because they dont have access to the DNA. These viruses can attach to a cell and raise the level of nerve activity to the immune system to produce anti-bodies (Institute). The social benefits that this vaccination could cause are the protection from infections and the possible end to the HPV disease. Men usually are the ones who pass on the disease to woman because there is not approved screening test for men for HPV infection unlike the women (Alexander). This proves that men are not aware and is unable to confirm whether they are or arent carrying this disease while they may have sexual interactions with woman. Therefore, girls and guys should be vaccinated in order to save themselves from getting the disease before its too late. Since the introduction of HPV vaccine only seven years ago, the infection rate among teenagers 14-19 has decreased by 54% (Prevention). The statistics shows that the HPV vaccination is working effectively and it could also convince the parents, whom are still deciding whether or not their child(s) should get vaccinated, to get their child(s) vaccinated and protected. In addition, when this vaccination is administered, the chances of more people getting the HPV disease may also decrease. This means that the chances of guys or girls receiving the disease or passing it on to someone else can decrease as well. When the number of people having the HPV disease dies down, the disease itself may go down too which means that this HPV vaccination can put an end to the HPV disease. Even though the vaccination presents a huge relief for society, there are also social and cultural disadvantages of getting this vaccination. Many cultures believe that marriage should come before

May (Patcharin) Weng sex (or no sex before marriage), some people could be afraid that the HPV vaccination would lead younger people to engage in sexual activities and also the Catholic Church had previously banned the vaccination amongst its followers for this same fear (Catholic Church Lifts Ban on HPV vaccination). As always, many young people are not as wise as grown up and they may get the impression that they are safe and protected from the HPV disease so they think that they can have sexual activities with their partner(s). This problem can cause another problem since the younger generations might not be very careful and it could lead to other unexpected things. Michele Bachmann (American Republican member of the United States House of Representatives) is a conservative religious fundamentalist who believes that the HPV vaccination can cause mental retardation. The reason she holds this view point is because she claimed a woman came up to her and complained that after her daughter got the HPV vaccination, she began to developed mental disorders. In addition, 44% of the parents do not want their child(s) to get vaccinated because they feared possible side effects (Stebner). However, the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention proved that Michele Bachmanns statement is untrue. Out of 35 million doses of Gardasil made in the US, o.o5% had reported side effects gotten from this particular vaccination and none of them seemed to be on mental retardation. From that small percentage (0.05%), 92% of the side effects were non-serious like fainting or fever (Terbush). Even though the statement is claimed to be untrue, people are still afraid that mental retardation could stem from this vaccine if only because a highly prominent public figure said so. To conclude, the HPV vaccination is very helpful to society. However, it can also be negative in regard to cultural or social factors. Younger people can misinterpret the purpose of this vaccine and think that they are allowed to start having sexual interactions because they are already protected against the HPV disease. Many parents also believe that it can cause side effects or problems to their child(s)s health because Michele Bachmann claimed that it causes mental retardation and the Catholic Church has previously banned the vaccine. Ultimately, it has been proven through numerous studies and statistics that this vaccination has really been effective towards society. Personally, I think that people should get vaccinated with the HPV vaccination because it can prevent you from getting the infection and decreases the chances more people getting the disease by passing it on to one another. If more people got vaccinated, there could also be hope that the vaccination can overcome this disease entirely. I do see some validity to the point that getting the HPV vaccination can lead younger people to have more sexual activities, but in my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry.

May (Patcharin) Weng Bibliography Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 05 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/signs-symptoms.html>. "Diseases & Conditions." Cleveland Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/genital_warts/hic_understanding_hpv.aspx>. "Does The HPV Vaccine Really Cause Retardation?" Business Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.businessinsider.com/bachmann-claims-hpv-vaccine-causes-retardation-2011-9>. "Guys, Man up and Get Vaccinated: HPV Is Your Responsibility." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41853611/>. "HPV Vaccine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPV_vaccine>. "HPV-Associated Cancers Statistics." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 July 2013. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/>. Hunter, Chad. "How Do HPV Cells Replicate? | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 12 Oct. 2009. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5521377_do-hpv-cells-replicate.html>. Melnick, Meredith. "Vaccination Causes Mental Retardation? Fact-Checking Michele Bachmanns Claim | TIME.com." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/13/vaccination-causes-mental-retardation-fact-checkingmichele-bachmanns-claim/>. "Michele Bachmann." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Bachmann>. "More Parents Refusing to Get HPV Vaccination for Their Children as They Fear Non-existent Safety Concerns, Study Claims." Mail Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2295285/More-parents-refusing-HPV-vaccination-children-fear-non-existent-safety-concerns-studyclaims.html>. "National Cancer Institute." Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines -. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/HPV-vaccine>.

May (Patcharin) Weng

"Press Release." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 June 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0619-hpvvaccinations.html>. Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hpvinfection/DS00906/DSECTION=causes>. "Tools." Trinidad Express Newspaper. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Catholic_Church_lifts_ban_on_HPV_vaccination190309011.html>.