Political & Elections

ETA: I didn't realize that it was even up for discussion (making this shot or something similar required). That is going way too far. I can understand diseases like polio or mumps (although, again, still on the fence about whether or not they should be required) mandatory since they are spread by germ contact- but something that is spread by sex? No. That's way beyond what should ever be required by the government.

Romani-

Hep B is required by state governments for school entry in most states and is indeed sexually transmitted.  Sorry to disappoint, but it's already required. I declined this vax for all my babies and signed waivers when they started school. Same opt out in TX for Gardisil. 

http://www.pkids.org/files/pdf/phr/02-08hbvvaccinestates.pdf

Know your forms of Hep and how they are transmitted: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4075abc.pdf

@pima- It's not just your age group that is reluctant to get vaccine. My generation (I'm 20) grew up hearing about the scares of childhood vaccines and their link to autism. Now that's been almost universally debunked iirc, BUT the subconscious association is there. No one on my mom's side of the family has ever gotten a vaccine that wasn't legally required (then again, we come from a Roma family and Gypsies aren't exactly known to be trustful of Gadjes).

OTOH- The misinformation that is out there about vaccines is frightening. I'm not sure how I feel about requiring shots for children (it's something I'm on the fence about), but I do wish more parents would actually look into the vaccines (whether they're for them or against them) to find out REAL information about them rather just relying on hear-say. It's down right scary how little initiative people take in knowing about what is and is not being put into their bodies.

ETA: I didn't realize that it was even up for discussion (making this shot or something similar required). That is going way too far. I can understand diseases like polio or mumps (although, again, still on the fence about whether or not they should be required) mandatory since they are spread by germ contact- but something that is spread by sex? No. That's way beyond what should ever be required by the government. 

You gave me a fabulous idea BD!!! Sue the manufacturer for the behaviors you described above. We'll be RICH, RICH I tell ya!!!!!!!

2 of our daughter's have had the Gardisil series, they have had no adverse effects, except for intermittent snarkiness, eye-rolling, I know-better-than you attitude and need for extra spending $$$. Should I be concerned? Perhaps I should call the pediatrician.

I think Bachmann killed her campaign with the Gardasil/retardation nonsense.  Could be wrong, but that's what I think.

Gardisil works for guys too.

but what happens if she cheats on him?

and there is no routine test for guys.

My mother has convinced me to not get the Gardasil shot- despite the fact that my sister contracted HPV when she was about 17. When I became sexually active at 15, I talked to my doctor and he advised me against getting it since both my partner and I were clean virgins (yes, tested and everything). He recommended waiting until I was with someone who wasn't a virgin or if I suspected infidelity.

In hindsight, that was probably bad advice since there is always the chance of infidelity. However, I am still holding off on getting the shot. I have had so many vaccines and shots in my life (because of traveling, weak immune system, chronic pneumonia, etc) that I just, quite frankly, don't want anything else in my body. I still get tested once a year and I have made both of my partners (both of whom had been virgins) get tested once a year as well. If my lifestyle changes, then I'll consider the shot. In the meantime, I'd rather practice safe sex in a monogamous relationship than get the shot. Yes, infidelity is a chance I'm willing to take.

FWIW- My insurance covers the shot. It's only like $15-20/shot.

I am usually a big believer in vaccines.  

That said, I have held off with the Gardasil vaccine because of some concerns I have about it, until I do more research on it for my kid.

The other issue is, the timing of the vaccines  (3 over a 6 month period) interferes with my kids' sport seasons, and many girls I know have had long lasting muscle pain at the site of the injection for many days.  We have been told that the pain is more significant than with a Tetanus shot, and there is a risk of seizure.

I also held off for the Chicken Pox vaccine.  When my D was young, there was about a 70% effectiveness rate with this vaccine.  I waited till she got ready to start school and hoped she would contract it the old fashioned way.  She was exposed mulitple times and never contracted it.  I got her the shot.  And then the booster when she went to middle school.  When I was a kid I had a mild case of chicken pox (doctors notated it in my med records) and then I got a very serious case as a young adult.  It was horrible.  

Chicken pox can be a dangerous illness and even kill children and adults.  

It's rare for Cervical cancer to kill women who are screened with yearly or bi-yearly well women pelvic exams.  It's something like the 14th leading killer.

Consider how much of a moneymaker this particular vaccine is for the company providing it - they have recommended that half the population in the country get this medication.  With our old insurance, it would have been $180 per shot (you need three), plus co-pay for office visit. 

Contrast that with a flu shot that costs $10 or $15 bucks.  

Consider me suspicious about the motivation for pushing this vaccine on every young female in the country. Especially since Cervical Cancer isn't a leading killer of women, and most people who get HPV won't die from it.  

Didn't watch it, not even clips of the more memorable exchanges, but it sounds like it went about as to be expected. Did hear that whatshisname... the one from MN... endorsed Romney and that Bobby Jindal came out for Perry. Once again, about what you might expect. It will be interesting to see where and who Rubio shows up for.

The three knocks on Perry I can think of right off-hand would be the vaccine issue, the allegations of crony capitalism, and the Trans-Texas corridor. Not that there won't be more, but those are the ones the Houston Chronicle has devoted a lot of column inches to over the years.

The vaccine issue I could care less about. It never came to fruition, which indicates he's not as single-minded as a democrat is when he/she decides what's best for all. And, he admits it was a mistake. Live and learn and all that. And if his campaign sinks under the weight of the crony capitalism charges, I'll be surprised - expecially if it's from an avalanche of examples of it rather than the recycling of of the same few.

His Trans-Texas effort was not one of his finer moments and he'll end up paying for that in this race, I think.

Miss Angola, wins 2011 Miss Universe.

China, 4st runner up

Phillipines, 3rd runner up

Brazil, 2nd runner up

Ukraine, 1st runner up

I missed the swim suit competition. And all the closeups. 

Huntsman, "What Gov Perry said that the Borders cannot be secured, Is a teasonist comment."