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wolven7'Scientists with the Robot Engineering Technology Research Center of east China's Shandong University of Science and Technology say they implanted micro electrodes in the brain of a pigeon so they can command it to fly right or left or up or down.'
What. The Fuck.
Also, I'm getting more and more outraged at the people trying to force sixth-grade girls to get the HPV vaccine, in the name of "equal availability." Forcing doctors to give it to anyone who comes in, regardless of insurance, once it has been fully tested, is perfectly acceptable, but making it mandatory? That's over the line, and everyone should be able to see why it's over the line.
The drug has not been fully tested. It's only been on the market for a few months. There are issues of privacy invasion (on certain readings of the Constitution; I know not everyone agrees on the right to privacy, but I do not believe that the Framers would have forseen wiretapping, video surveilance, and laser listening devices; privacy, to them, was a given, aside from the local gossips, who were not, on the whole a legal issue). And the issues of forced parenting tactics. All of this adds up to the government trying to force people to do something potentially unsafe to themselves, in a potentially illegal way. Strage days, people...
.... I totally forgot that I didn't post this yet. Think of it as having been posted half an hour ago.
What. The Fuck.
Also, I'm getting more and more outraged at the people trying to force sixth-grade girls to get the HPV vaccine, in the name of "equal availability." Forcing doctors to give it to anyone who comes in, regardless of insurance, once it has been fully tested, is perfectly acceptable, but making it mandatory? That's over the line, and everyone should be able to see why it's over the line.
The drug has not been fully tested. It's only been on the market for a few months. There are issues of privacy invasion (on certain readings of the Constitution; I know not everyone agrees on the right to privacy, but I do not believe that the Framers would have forseen wiretapping, video surveilance, and laser listening devices; privacy, to them, was a given, aside from the local gossips, who were not, on the whole a legal issue). And the issues of forced parenting tactics. All of this adds up to the government trying to force people to do something potentially unsafe to themselves, in a potentially illegal way. Strage days, people...
.... I totally forgot that I didn't post this yet. Think of it as having been posted half an hour ago.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 01:50 am (UTC)So far as measles, mumps, polio, reubella, and so on, I don't really object to them, but it still doesn't feel as invasive as this, perhaps because I was brn into a culture where it was the norm, perhaps not. Either way, I think the findings on the HPV vaccine need to be made much more public, prior to this type of legislation. They need to be plastered over every middle and high school nurse's office, and inside every doctor's office.
I know, or can easily find all the potential side effects of those other vaccinations, but i know relatively little, and can't find much more about the HPV thing.
No, it doesn't directly affect me, but it's a relevant issue. There's a difference between not being allowed to kill oneself, being required to vaccinate against a deadly disease, with known side-effect, and then this.
There's also the religious aspects: Jehova's Witnesses, and so on.
It seems a great idea to make it available to any who want it, but there's something a little too dark-grey about making it mandatory.
I'd do it, but I'd do a lot of things, if i ruled the world...
no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 05:47 am (UTC)The ACS website (www.cancer.org) has some good info on the actual testing done for the vaccine. I just wrote a FAQ on my lj page and one of the links at the bottom goes to a transcript of a Women's council panel that explains the testing done in more detail. The findings are pretty easily avaliable on the internet, including through the Company website (https://www.merckvaccines.com/).
HPV is a deadly disease with known side effects- it causes cervical cancer. And the main side effect of the HPV vaccine is soreness in the area where the vaccine is given.
Religious people can exempt out of this (and any) vaccine. Private schools don't have to accept them, but public schools do.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 06:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-28 02:20 pm (UTC)I am in favor of childhood vaccinations because the diseases they protect against can become epidemic very quickly AND they are all highly dangerous without exception to older persons, persons with compromised immune systems and pregnant women/unborn children. Dangers including death, which comes from a sneeze in the wrong direction. HPV can turn cancerous but it does not always do so AND regular pap smears will prevent cervical cancer without a doubt.
I happen to be opposed to the chicken pox vaccine for pretty much the same reasons. But the HPV which can turn to cancer isn't something I am going to get from someone accidently rubbing their arm against me. Nor am I likely to get cervical cancer even if was infected with HPV because I go for regular pap smears
and bear in mind
Date: 2007-02-28 02:28 pm (UTC)Will the HPV vaccine be covered by insurance plans?
While some insurance companies may cover the vaccine, others may not. Most large insurance plans usually cover the costs of recommended vaccines. However, there is often a short lag-time after a vaccine is recommended, before it is available and covered by health plans.
What kind of government programs may be available to cover HPV vaccine?
Federal health programs such as Vaccines for Children (VFC) will cover the HPV vaccine. The VFC program provides free vaccines to children and teens under 19 years of age, who are either uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Native. There are over 45,000 sites that provide VFC vaccines, including hospitals, private clinics, and public clinics. The VFC Program also allows children and teens to get VFC vaccines through Federally Qualified Health Centers or Rural Health Centers, if their private health insurance does not cover the vaccine.
Some states also provide free or low-cost vaccines at public health department clinics to people without health insurance coverage for vaccines.
So, as usual, the average person is going to get screwed if this becomes mandatory: We have insurance which of course won't cover this vaccine and thus if we have a girl we'll be forced to shell out the retail price of the vaccine.
I just love how the government is always putting new and exciting restrictions and mandates upon parents but not worrying about how we'll pay for compliance. Then if we fail to meet those mandates or restrictions, we're all BAD PARENTS. Fuggit, I'm already "bad" because I couldn't afford to continue my kids' music lessons. Guess I suck as it is.
Re: and bear in mind
Date: 2007-02-28 03:49 pm (UTC)The cost argument is actually a good one for requiring a vaccine- if the vaccine isn't required, the cost will be so high that few people will be able to "chose" to take it.
HPV may not be transmitted by casual contact, but most people WILL have sex at some point in their lives, even if only in the confines of a monogamous marriage.
Pap smears can catch cancer early and help you remove precancerous cells, but they don't prevent cervical cancer like the vaccine does. And not all HPV leads to cervical cancer, but the vast majority of cervical cancer comes from HPV.
Cervical cancer is also extremely dangerous for older persons, persons with compromised immune systems and pregnant women/unborn children.
Re: and bear in mind
Date: 2007-02-28 05:00 pm (UTC)No, that's theory, it's not reality. The whole reason why the government has programs to help un/der insured people get required vaccines is because otherwise those children DON'T get vaccinated. If I go get vaccinations for my kids outside of my insurance plan, it costs from $75 -150 per child. Luckily, my insurance covers it (they didn't always) and I pay $40 per child. As I said, private insurance hasn't always covered required vaccinations and to date none of them are required to. Thus, I am required to get them for my children but the insurance company who covers us is not required to subsidize them. Most doctors in private practice do not administer them either. Public Health Report (http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/116_3/116219.pdf) because they LOSE money on them. My current doctor so rarely has call to administer them, he has to order them when its time for us to get them.
Cervical cancer is also extremely dangerous for older persons, persons with compromised immune systems and pregnant women/unborn children.
And those people cannot GET the vaccine because it hasn't been tested for safety on those people.
HPV may not be transmitted by casual contact, but most people WILL have sex at some point in their lives, even if only in the confines of a monogamous marriage.
My point is that because it isn't spread through unwitting casual contact, the government has no place requiring people to get their kids vaccinated for it. Not until the goverment is willing to pay for it.
I'm not arguing that the HPV vaccine could be a wonderful thing, not at all, and I'd be totally willing to take my future daughter to get one. But I don't want the government requiring me to do so. The government's job is to protect the overall people from epidemics, not each and every individual from disease.
Re: and bear in mind
Date: 2007-02-28 05:05 pm (UTC)the last time I went to the public health clinic to get vaccines for my boys (I didn't have enough time to get them throuh my doctor since he has to ORDER them) I was asked to pay $60 per child. That was a reduced rate there. Why? because I HAVE insurance. and my income is "too high" to get the free rate. Full cost? $85 per child. That's the government price. Full cost at a private doctor? $75-150 per child.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-01 06:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-01 04:56 pm (UTC)