Depending on who you ask, Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario has either done a lot of bizarre things or a lot of nothing during his time in the office. Regardless of what he’s actually done, he gets quite a lot of bad press (see the tuition fee protests against him). However, once in a while he does something right, in my ever-so-humble opinion. Way back in September 2005, we had the Sharia Law campaign in which McGuinty said that we wouldn’t be seeing religious arbitration in Ontario. One point for him. Another point is added today, as he announced free HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines for Grade 8 girls in Ontario, starting this fall (CBC).
Back when I was involved with the Ontario secular movement, this issue got tossed around quite a bit. The central debate here is between the right of vaccination and the right of parents to refuse. Ignoring those who might see vaccinations as mind-control weapons of the “man”, there is a very real concern among some parents that such a vaccination intrudes into their freedoms. Sometimes underlying this concern is the belief that such a vaccine might lead to promiscuity, much in the same way that some believe condom distribution will.
I’m not sure how prevalent this latter sentiment is, but it disturbs me nonetheless. Wikipedia says:
Other critics, including socially conservative religious groups, warn that the vaccine will encourage promiscuity by making it seem safer. Many women’s rights organizations disagree. Dr. Christine Peterson, director of the University of Virginia’s Gynecology Clinic, said “The presence of seat belts in cars doesn’t cause people to drive less safely. The presence of a vaccine in a person’s body doesn’t cause them to engage in risk-taking behavior they would not otherwise engage in.” (HPV vaccine controversy – Wikipedia, August 2 2007)
Those who oppose the vaccine on more libertarian grounds will have to speak to their daughter, not the state:
Jensen also told CBC News that parental consent forms will be issued prior to vaccination. But if a 13-year-old girl wants the vaccination despite her parents’ objections, she will still be able to get one. And even if parents agree to the vaccination, their daughter can still opt out.
Giving the choice to the person it’s actually affecting? What a novel idea. Of course, they might accuse schools of pressuring their children, but if the worst criticism of the program is that it’s encouraging children to prevent terrible disease then I think that speaks for itself.
