Well, I have to be a fence sitter here. I have no female relatives in the age category where this vaccine would be beneficial and I'm WAY too old myself... and while I THINK my Grandmother may have died from cervical cancer metastasized, I'm only guessing as it was something her generation never talked about. SO, I have no pressing need for the vaccine.
On the other hand, death from cancer is NOT a nice thing (reference said Grandmother, as well as a Grandfather on the OTHER side of the family) and if there is a vaccine that will eliminate just one form of it, well, GREAT! And I think all females of the age cadre recommended should RUN right out and get it!
BUT... I think the government has no earthly right to make it mandatory. it's not like polio or diphtheria where casual contact spreads it like wildfire. Yes, the virus is contagious and can be spread --- from sexual partner to sexual partner. But until they come up with an equal-opportunity vaccine for the male in the equation, they aren't going to wipe it out so...
Leave it up to the parents/girls... and hope the girls don't have parents who are so freaked out at the possibility that this vaccine could be classed as a STD vaccine that they refuse permission to some child who wants/ needs it!
