Ideally, young girls at the ages of 11 or 12 are not yet sexually active. They’ve just learned about sex in health class the year before and should be more concerned with cooties than they are with contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

So, when half to three quarters of sexually active women are contracting HPV sometime within their lifetime, it seems that giving the HPV vaccination to a girl who Googles things like “how to kiss” might be more effective than waiting until she’s typing “STD symptoms.”

If HPV is just another acronym to you, you should know that it stands for Human Papilloma Virus, an STD that can have severe symptoms, ranging from skin warts to cervical cancer.

The vaccination Gardasil prevents types 6, 11, 16, and 18 of HPV. While types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90 percent of anal and genital warts, types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers. The vaccine is most effective between ages 9 and 26.

According to the American Cancer Society, over 9,710 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 3,700 died from it. Potentially, if all women receive the three series shot prior to any exposure to HPV, the diagnostic and fatality rates of cervical cancer could be reduced by more than two-thirds.

With the FDA’s recent approval of the use and distribution of Gardasil, at least 18 different states are considering mandating the distribution of the vaccine for young girls—Texas being one of the first to do so.

To the dismay of his political party, as well as conservative groups who feel the vaccine promotes casual sexual activity, Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas signed an order mandating that girls entering the sixth grade must be vaccinated against the STD.

When the government takes it upon itself to mandate vaccinations for things like STDs, a backlash can only be expected. Conservative groups, for instance, have concerns that the vaccine promotes sexual activity and will give their children a false sense of security. And while a mandate seems rather authoritative, the bill does include an opt-out clause; parents can file an affidavit for reasons religious or otherwise.

Critics are also speculating that Perry’s executive move to mandate such a proposal may not have been based on the well-being of his state, but rather the funding that Gardasil’s maker, the Merck Corporation, had previously provided for his political campaign.

Gardasil was only just approved by FDA last June, so it’s reasonable for people to be wary of the drug’s side effects as well as the motives behind Perry’s rash and unexpected decision. Not only did Perry neglect to keep the legislature informed, but he also did so without alerting the public. As a result, young women are not the only ones worrying about the cost issues of the vaccine. Now the families of these sixth grade girls are being asked, or told, to spend an estimated $360 on a vaccination about which they are uneducated.

Likewise, Michigan citizens have similar concerns. Presently, Albion College Health Services is not carrying the vaccine. However, for $150 an injection (totaling $450), the vaccine is offered in Albion by both Planned Parenthood and Keefer Medicine (Dr. Holmes, 517-629-2134). As most insurance companies are not yet covering the cost, the price seems to be asking a lot of young women and their families.

Washington Gov. Chris Galore, however, is attempting to make the vaccine free of cost within his state. If the legislature approves his budget proposal, the state will purchase a large quantity of the drug for free distribution to doctors, hospitals and clinics. He has no intention of making the drug mandatory, but prefers the vaccine be accessible to those who choose to use it as a preventative measure.

The proposal to mandate the vaccine in Michigan has been turned down once already but has returned to the state legislature for yet another chance. While a mandate would promote the vaccination, it shouldn’t be Michigan’s top priority.

Our main concern as educators, as students and as the people of Michigan, should be our health and the health of the next generation. Following Washington’s lead in providing the vaccination free of charge will be effective, whereas instating a mandate proves to be more authoritative than efficient.

If the vaccine is made both available and affordable, sixth graders and women of the future can more easily obtain the benefits of cervical cancer prevention.