Human papillomavirus (HPV) kills 4,000 women a year in the US. In fact, 93% of the women who develop cervical cancer have HPV, leading some researchers to suggest a link. So you'd think that a HPV vaccine would be universally welcomed.
Think again.
The Family Research Council promises to fight any attempt to put an HPV vaccine on the market. HPV is sexually transmitted and the Council uses fear of HPV as a marketing tool to push their abstinence programs. HPV isn't blocked by condoms. As long as it's out there, it provides an argument that using condoms doesn't really mean safe sex.
Two drug makers -- Merck and GlaxoSmithKline -- are moving forward with tests on HPV vaccines.
Radar magazine quotes FRC policy analyst Bridget Maher: “Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a license to engage in premarital sex.” (New Scientist)
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