The Gardasil "Breakthrough"

A new vaccine has been found that would protect young girls from cervical cancer -- wonderful news. Gardasil immunizes against two sexually transmitted strains of of the human papilloma virus that are associated with cervical cancer.

What is disturbing is that the The National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that the vaccine be administered to girls as young as 9 -- and routinely for girls aged 11-12. As welcome as the medical breakthrough is, there seems to be something rather sad about the almost complete absence of analysis about what the recommendations imply: A resignation about the inevitability of girls older than 11-12 -- and, in some cases older than 9 -- having sex.

Given the ubiquity of sex in a young girl's daily life (in television, movies, books, magazines, fashion, advertising, music and the internet), you can't blame girls for having the impression that it's OK for them to have sex. And while everyone should applaud protecting them from harm that results from their decision to do so, the new vaccine can't immunize them from other physical/emotional/spiritual damage that results from giving too much, too soon.