School's decision to reject HPV Vaccine

I was struck by two things in the popular press this week - the coverage given to the school where the HPV vaccine was rejected, and the very sad story of Jade Goody.

What is the argument again for rejecting the HPV vaccine? Is it that old so called moral argument that if we protect our young people from a potentially deadly cancer then we will create a promiscuous society? And is the message that if we don't, then there will be no unprotected sex and we will all live happily ever after? Or is it, if you have unprotected sex then you must face the direst of consequences? I don't like what I'm hearing.

Those unfortunate teenagers will not have the same opportunity to look after their health if the vaccine is only offered off school premises. It is often people who do not access their own doctors who are the most at risk of many diseases, for many different reasons, so their school would have been a great place to offer the vaccine.

Jade has had one of the worst outcomes and love her or hate her the images we are seeing of her are very strong and heart rending. If giving the vaccine can protect others from having this experience then every single vaccine is worth it. People who propose that mass vaccination is a bad idea need to grow up and to broaden their minds so we can really protect the health of our teenagers NOW. It makes more sense in every way to avoid disease, to avoid surgery and to avoid all the heartache that having a totally preventable cancer can bring.

I don't doubt that we need to promote safer sex (or abstaining/delaying first sex, if that is right for a particular school). We do definitely need to teach how cervical cancer is more likely to occur when teenagers start having unprotected sex at a young age, are exposed to HPV early in their lives, and maybe from more than one partner. But abstaining from sex will never be everyone's choice.

So, should our faith schools be allowed to "play God" and make decisions on behalf of the teenage girls who will go on to develop cervical cancer as a result of not being adequately protected?