http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o The Los Angeles school district will distribute the newly approved human papillovirus (HPV) vaccine to middle-school girls starting this school year, defying right-wing critics who argue that making the vaccine available will encourage girls to become sexually active. The vaccine is nearly 100% effective in preventing HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer—a disease that kills nearly 4,000 women in the U.S. annually. On Friday, the LA Times (free reg. required) editorialized in favor of the district's decision, arguing that objections to the HPV vaccine mostly center on the notion that giving young girls a vaccine against STDs could encourage... Copyright 2008 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:29:25 -0800 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:18:03 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss And Gardasil has the added bonus of being a funny name for a drug that prevents against the venerable wiggeties.

]]> SEAN NELSON, EMERITUS http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448891 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448891 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:37:59 -0800 I don't know about anyone else but when I was getting vaccinated at that age I had no idea what those shots were for. All I knew was that I was getting out of homeroom. I think the whole arguement against the vaccine gives 13 year olds way too much credit.

]]> M http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448900 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448900 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:52:43 -0800 Picky, I know, but technically the vaccine is not nearly 100% effective at preventing HPV. It's nearly 100% effective at preventing the four most dangerous strains of HPV, which in turn are responsible for something like 80% of the cases of cervical cancer.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448906 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448906 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:08:56 -0800 Now, not that I disagree, but I have to think that anyone equating sexual activity with stepping on a rusty nail isn't doing one of them correctly.

]]> BC http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448926 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448926 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:37:22 -0800 You step on the nail your way, I'll step on it mine, OK?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448935 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448935 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:49:14 -0800 I hate to ask the obvious question, but does anyone have the addresses to these soon-to-be-slutty middle school girls? Don't worry, I'll pick up a rubber from the neighboring elementary school before I visit...

]]> snoino http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448956 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c448956 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:20:09 -0800 I always laugh at that 'it'll promote sex' argument. Conservatives are fools. Teenagers ALREADY ARE sexually active. They were even fooling around in the allegedly sacred 40's and 50's.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c449145 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/la_school_district_o#c449145 News Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:18:03 -0800