The vaccine for cervical cancer was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June for the use in girls and women and has been hailed as a breakthrough in cancer prevention. The vaccine prevents infections from some strains of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.
Michigan girls entering the sixth grade next year would have to be vaccinated against cervical cancer, this would be a first of its kind of legislation for the United States.
The American Cancer Society estimates 9,700 women nationwide will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2006, and 3,700 will die.
Some say that making the vaccine mandatory infringes on parents' rights and encourages teen sex.
What do you think? Should the vaccine be mandatory or should the parents be able to decide?
