Sex.

With the use of this one, small word your attention has already been drawn to this very page. Why?

Because as a member of the human race you are biologically programmed to think about sex. Very often.

You are encouraged to do so by just about everyone; your friends, your classmates, your teacher, some guy on TV, and even your doctors.

But doctors make talking about sex uncomfortable. They want to know how often you have sex, what kind of protection you use, etc. Maybe your sex is a bit casual, so they start talking about STDs, and even though you may never have had one, they tell you they would like to have you tested anyway. That’s usually the end of it. Or it used to be.

Now there is a vaccine available that can actually prevent an STD, Gardasil. Gardasil protects against the most common STD in the U.S., HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). It is also the first vaccine ever to prevent an STD and subsequently cancer.

At any given time, approximately 20 million people have HPV (cdc.gov). HPV also causes 98% of cervical cancer cases. Two of the four strains of HPV targeted by Gardasil cause 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts, and the other two cause 70% of cervical cancers.

As with any medical procedure there are a few possible side effects, albeit minimal ones. The side effects include soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, and flu-like symptoms.

The vaccine, which was created by Merck, is given through a series of three injections. The vaccine is recommended for women between the ages of 9 and 26, though women of any age may receive the vaccination. Merck is currently at work on studies to gain FDA approval of its usage on men as well.

There are many people in full support of the vaccine, including Skyline nurse, Janet Gersonde. She is very excited about the vaccine and thinks that it should be taken by as many people as possible.

“I think it’s an incredible breakthrough to have a vaccine that prevents cancer, to me that’s the most important thing,” Gersonde said.

Merck is pushing legislation to mandate the vaccine for girls ages 11 and 12, the age at which the vaccine has proven most effective. Merck has targeted this specific age group because they have a lesser chance of already having made contact with the disease, and are at a point in there development where their immune system responds extremely well. In order for the vaccine to work it must be given prior to exposure.

The question of whether or not the vaccine should be required has become very controversial; some worry it is too new, while others such as conservatives worry that freedom from HPV will cause promiscuity in our youth.

“This is absurd,” said Liz Haas, a public relations representative for Planned Parenthood, in an email. “A vaccine will not cause promiscuity any more than an umbrella causes rain.”

Planned Parenthood supports legislation of the vaccine, which is already available at Planned Parenthood clinics.

“The easiest way to ensure widespread use of a vaccine is to make it mandatory,” said Haas.

Skyline English professor, Nina Floro disagrees. She believes that the decision to vaccinate should be up to the parent, due to the way in which the disease is spread.

Despite opposing the vaccine’s legislation, Floro is in no way opposed to the vaccine itself. In fact Floro, sought out the vaccination for her own daughter, prior to its approval with the thought: “If it’s going to prevent cancer in women, why not make it available?”

With all that said, the question remains; to vaccinate or not to vaccinate? At this point, it looks as though it all comes down to one’s own personal opinion, and/or comfort level. This proves once again, that though there may not always be answers there will always be options.