The HPV Vaccine, most popularly Gardasil is the chosen one, but regardless of that, this vaccine against warts and other problems from HPV is popularly pushed through by governments and health agencies alike. And for good reason. It’s definitely true that the late teens and twenties are a sensitive time with getting a bug by HPV. The most dangerous of course, are some types of cancers. The HPV vaccine typically is mandated to school children because this is the time to protect them…before the chance of catching HPV. Gardasil is the popular option because of it’s thoroughness as well. Most people would regard that its 90% effectiveness against genital warts, for example is a GOOD thing.
However, some parents groups feel that this is not an anti-cancer shot, 
but an anti-STD shot. When it is administered to 10 year old girls (and recently, boys are trending to be eligible as well) then this is an issue of parents not feeling comfortable with the discussion of sexually transmitted diseases. The arguments from many parents as well, was to simply state that this shot will encourage promiscuity in young children and make the environment more dangerous for these kids.
The American Journal of Preventative Medicine, however, has found out that boys and girls from the 13-21 age frame have received the vaccine and, after analyzing the data, there is no connection in increased sexual activity between girls who got the HPV shot versus those who have not.
Even more interesting, those girls who have discussed the vaccine and why it’s being given by there parents were found to have safer sex or be all around more responsible. It is also best to remember that many kids don’t need to be told about the details behind the shot. They are free to just receive it and it’s benefits without it becoming the controversy that some groups have chosen to make it.
The nice thing about the political and health policy push onto school kids if, nonetheless, provides yet another opportunity to speak to kids about these things and provide them a better explanation of the world that we all live in and the risks that there are when being with others.
