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- Written by: Rita Cormulley
- Category: Letters
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ash admits she was slightly disappointed not to see this letter on the opinion page of her local paper. Two days after she sent it in, she was also flummoxed that her characterization of the opposition to the proposal (“Puritanical”) was appropriated in the house’s own editorial commenting on the matter. Or did two separate sensibilities form the same conclusions? Here is the article on which ash reflects:
So let me get this straight. There’s this drug, see, which, injected into a girl on the verge of her reproductive era, precludes or greatly reduces the probability of contracting an insidious, often fatal disease. Yet availing this drug to all Illinois girls is not a “no-brainer” because the disease happens to be associated with, or is sometimes but not always transmitted through, sexual relations.
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- Written by: Rita Cormulley
- Category: Letters
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Opponent of bill calls out sponsor to reveal details of private life
By DANA HEUPEL
STATE CAPITOL BUREAU
Published Monday, February 19, 2007
Legislation to vaccinate pre-teen girls against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer has sparked a heated debate at the Illinois Statehouse.
The discussion has even moved to the point where one opponent of the legislation has publicly called on a sponsor to reveal her sexual history.
At issue is the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer in females. A new vaccine, Gardasil, has been shown to protect against HPV strains that cause 70 percent of the cancer cases. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended vaccinations for 11- and 12-year-old girls - before they are likely to become sexually active.
An Illinois House bill would require girls to be vaccinated before they enter sixth grade beginning in 2008-09 unless their parents formally opt out. A similar Senate bill would have schools provide information about HPV and cervical cancer to 11- and 12-year-old girls beginning this fall and then would require immunizations - again, unless parents decide against them - in 2009.
"I really thought it was a no-brainer," Sen. Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, D-Crete, the sponsor of Senate Bill 10, said last week. "It just made perfect sense to me, and then everybody seemed to come out of the woodwork and start all this chaos against this vaccine."
Conservative groups, such as the Illinois Family Institute, have begun lobbying against the legislation. And the topic has been a hot item with conservative bloggers and commentators in Illinois and throughout America ever since Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order two weeks ago requiring HPV vaccinations in that state.
"It takes away from parental rights to mandate this vaccine," said Jill Stanek, a blogger and conservative Web columnist from Mokena.
Even though both bills would allow parents to decide against vaccinations, "it still puts the burden on the parents to opt out,"
she said. "And some pediatricians will drop patients if they don't adhere to the mandated vaccination regimen."
Other concerns, Stanek said, include whether the Federal Drug Administration has fully vetted the vaccine and whether it could provide "a false sense of security," causing women to forgo Pap smears. Those examinations already have dramatically reduced cervical cancer and could detect cancer caused by HPV strains not covered by the vaccine, she said.
Aside from philosophical arguments, the criticism has also taken on a personal tone.
The vaccine's manufacturer, Merck & Co., is waging a nationwide campaign to promote the series of three injections, which are given over six months. Stanek points out that Merck contributed $1,000 to Halvorson's re-election campaign last year. Merck also is a sponsor of Women In Government, a national organization for which Halvorson is a board member.
Halvorson said the campaign contribution had nothing to do with the legislation. It made up only a small portion of the more than $225,000 she raised during the last reporting period, she said.
"If I did special legislation for everybody who gave me a campaign contribution, you know how busy I'd be?" Halvorson asked.
Halvorson also said Merck is only one of more than 75 corporate sponsors - including a number of other pharmaceutical companies - that support Women In Government.
But Stanek has trod onto even more personal ground.
The 49-year-old Halvorson has acknowledged she had a hysterectomy in 2002 after precancerous cells were discovered on her cervix during a medical exam.
Writing Feb. 6 on www .illinoisreview.com, a conservative blog, Stanek said Halvorson "does not advocate avoiding a risky behavior that leads not only to HPV but to 20-plus other STDs and their strains, along with unplanned pregnancy. Halvorson merely advocates trying to avoid the consequences of risky behavior. Shame on her."
Among other suggestions, Stanek urged Halvorson to "discuss the number of sex partners she has had throughout her lifetime and how each one increased the likelihood of contracting HPV" and wrote that "if Halvorson contracted HPV through rape, she could discuss ways to avoid rape."
The comments soon became a topic of discussion on numerous other blogs. Some commenters echoed Stanek's statements. Others said she was entirely out of line.
Stanek said last week she stands by her comments. Halvorson and others, Stanek said, "were saying, 'I have a history of this disease, but my solution excludes assessing the history of my disease. They didn't want to talk about how did they get it - how do you get HPV - which is where they would have done the most good."
"The best way to avoid HPV 100 percent is through abstinence," Stanek said.
"Unfortunately, my life isn't as flamboyant as they'd like to make it," Halvorson responded. "I used to have respect for (Stanek) and her stance - and I have total respect for people who do things based on facts - but to make it so personal and ignorant only makes me more determined to get the word out."
"Obviously abstinence is best," Halvorson said. "I'm not preaching to have anybody go out and have wild, unprotected sex. I'm talking about being able to eliminate cervical cancer. It has nothing to do with sex. It has everything to do with cancer."
But conservatives aren't the only ones with reservations about mandatory vaccinations. In its annual report, the state Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force said, "Mandating the vaccination for all (female) school children in Illinois is premature. Instead, the task force believes the best prevention against this disease is an informed public."
"I think the logistics are not in place yet to make mandatory screening at this point," said Dr. L. Stewart Massad, director of gynecologic oncology at Southern Illinois University Medical School in Springfield and a task force member. "I think it's likely to be a good idea in the future."
One concern, he said, is the cost of the vaccine. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the price at $120 for each of the three injections, and Massad said doctor's office fees could push the total cost to nearly $500.
"Requiring $360 for a vaccine to get into sixth grade is a big deal for some people," Massad said. "If it's not covered by insurance, then do we want to make it mandatory at this point?"
Massad said he and other task force members also are concerned about the availability of the vaccine and possible adverse reactions, although so far they are limited only to mild fever and soreness at the injection site.
He emphasized, however, that the task force does endorse voluntary vaccinations for women ages 13 to 26.
"Those of us on the task force have seen people die from cervical cancer. This can prevent that," Massad said. "We don't see why a parent would not want their child vaccinated if they understand what cervical cancer does to people."
Halvorson and Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana, the sponsor of the House legislation, HB115, said they are considering making the vaccinations coincide with mandated fifth-grade physicals or perhaps moving the physicals to the sixth grade. That would save the cost of a separate doctor's visit, they said.
Halvorson also said another pharmaceutical firm, GlaxoSmithKline, intends to introduce a similar vaccine soon, and the competition could lower the price of the immunizations.
Two of the state's largest medical insurers, Health Alliance and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, both said they cover the vaccinations for women who fall under the federal advisory panel's guidelines.
Several central Illinois lawmakers contacted said they want to learn more before they decide whether to support the mandated HPV vaccinations.
Dana Heupel can be reached at 788-1518 or
Human papillomavirus Q&A
What are the dangers of genital HPV?
Genital HPV is a common virus that is passed through genital contact, most often during sex. While most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on their own, some types can cause cervical cancer as well as some other cancers and genital warts.
How common is cervical cancer?
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, more than 9,700 women will have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,700 women will die from this cancer in the United States.
How common is HPV?
At least 50 percent of sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives. HPV is most common in young women and men in their late teens and early 20s. Anyone who has ever had genital contact with another person can get HPV. Both men and women can get it - and pass it on to their sex partners - without even realizing it.
Can HPV and its associated diseases be treated?
There is no treatment for HPV. But there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause, such as genital warts, cervical cell changes and cancer of the cervix.
How effective is the HPV vaccine?
Studies have found the vaccine to be almost 100 percent effective in preventing diseases caused by the four HPV types covered by the vaccine - including precancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina, and genital warts - when given to young women who had not been exposed to any of those HPV types.
Why is the HPV vaccine recommended for young girls?
Ideally, girls and young women should get the vaccine before they are sexually active.
What about vaccinating boys?
It is not known yet if the vaccine is effective in boys or men. Studies are now being done to find out if the vaccine works to prevent HPV infection and disease in males.
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- Written by: Rita Cormulley
- Category: Letters
- Hits: 1
Yes, this is a bit silly. But ash was giddy with the expectation of no longer receiving her paper as a consequence of Mike’s unconscionable behavior toward her. She thought it would be fun to send him a hint wrapped in the ostensible complaint:
A curiosity. Saturday’s edition lists the “advice” columns - Abby, Donohue, and Heloise – on page whatever. But they’re not on that page nor any other. Then on Sunday an apology for the omission with Saturday’s missed columns listed elsewhere. They’re there, but as it turns out the Abby column is Sunday’s, not Saturday’s, while the other two, which aren’t featured on Sunday, appear as advertised.
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- Written by: Rita Cormulley
- Category: Letters
- Hits: 2
Here’s another post-fallout with the editor letter that reads as a straight contradiction. As opposed to the sarcasm ash employs toward the subject of her ridicule, whose editorial can be read HERE:
Columnist Kathleen Parker is a very interesting writer. She’s always full of it but expresses herself so politely, with such Southern hospitality, a careless reader might never recognize just how deceptive she can be.