The XX Factor: What women really think.

Gardasil's Not Just for Girls Anymore

With all this talk about OTC birth control, we've ignored another recent story about reproductive health: the news that Merck is trying to peddle Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, to boys. According to the Washington Post, when Gardasil was initially recommended for girls as young as 9, the argument against it focused on promiscuity and whether or not the vaccine would encourage girls to have sex. "Now the vaccine's maker is trying to get approval to sell the vaccine for boys," according to the WaPo, "and the debate is focusing on something else entirely: Is it worth the money, and is it safe and effective enough?"

It makes sense to give boys the vaccine as long as its safe, as they are carriers of HPV even though it primarily affects women's health. However, Merck is also lobbying for Gardasil to become mandatory for school attendance for girls—something that gives conservative organizations like the Family Research Council palpitations. "We do not oppose the development or distribution of the vaccine," the FRC's Peter S. Sprigg tells the WaPo. "The only concern we have is about proposals to make vaccination mandatory for school attendance. It's a parental rights issue." So I ask you ladies, should the administration of the vaccine be left to the parents? Or is HPV a public health nuisance on the level of measles and should Gardasil be mandatory?