Simone Davis, a 17 year-old British girl has been denied US permanent residency because she refused to take the Gardasil vaccine, which protects against a few strains of HPV and reduces the risk of cervical cancer. Since 2008, the US government has required that female immigrants between the ages of 11 to 26 applying for permanent residency or refugee status receive Gardasil, which was approved by the FDA in 2006. According to the 1996 Immigration and Naturalization Act girls and women within a specified age group must receive vaccinations against certain specified diseases “and any other vaccinations recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. Said Davis, “I am only 17 years old and planning to go to college and not have sex anytime soon. There is no chance of getting cervical cancer, so there’s no point in getting the shot.” A devout Christian, Simone has taken a virginity pledge and plans to attend Pensacola Christian College, where she was conditionally accepted, pending her legal status. The vaccine is not mandated for girls or women who are already legal US residents. [via ABC News]
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Tags: CDC, cervical cancer, FDA, gardasil, hpv, immigration, Pensacola Christian College
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:20 am
Ask why? Probably has nothing to do with virginity pledges. What if she marries or changes her mind and contracts a disease because she was not vaccinated. If she lacks health insurance she becomes a drag on the system. Hence the rationale. We require other vaccines to enter this country – why is this one any different? From a Public Health perspective – it isn’t.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:22 am
Why does this not surprise me? Because it’s, typical FDA,gov.BULLSHIT. Ever heard the saying STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BREED;this is a prime example! You should never give idiots too much authority because typically they abuse that privelege.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:04 am
have you ever taken the time what garbage and poisons are in these vaccines???…they mostly cause disease + don’t prevent nothing…somebody makes money on it…do you know how many people have died or become paralyzed or become sick???…I’ve read and seen videos…
no thank you…
get colloidal silver or MMS etc. instead…they have no side effects…
use your head and be well…
September 14th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I’ve been around this world so many times, that EVERY time I enter into a foreign territory, I NEED to show a Vaccination of myself!! I just wonder why this teenager, Simone, who wants to emigrate into our nation WON’T take the neccessary precaution of vaccination? It’s our law, right?! Foreigners should listen and obey IF they wish to enter and dwell!! All outsiders need to read and respond to the U.S.A. Rules and Regulations which protect and preserve the rights and regulations of Americans and its Inhabitants!!!! That is all. If you wish to respond, go ahead.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:10 am
It appears as though Merck has written the immigration laws too. Gaurdasil has caused in excess of 50 deaths and has maimed several thousands of young women. In the state of Texas the govenor took trmedious heat when it was discovered that Merck indirectly sponsored his campaign only after he mandated the Gaurdasil vaccination for young girls and women. Texans became unwound upon finding the truth about Gaurdasil and most rejected the mandate and it was withdrawn.
Folks, it’s high time we start paying more attention to these drug companies. They put several millions in the hands of politicians with anticipation of gaining several billions in return. They care not a single wit as to your safety, it’ greed pure and simple.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Big brother is out of control. The FDA now mandates all young women must take this vaccine. Big Pharma is now in control of the FDA. Somewhere along the way big Pharma will develop a drug that will induce all Americans to be puppets of the elitist masters. Shades of a conspiracy theory.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Why is it always big govt. that takes the blame????Vaccinations have been around for hundreds( well almost) of years. Some countries just require different ones. This is our country’s policy. No one said she had to come here to study! It’s still her choice…
September 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
HOW CAN THEY MANDATE A YET UNPROVEN VACCINE?THIS REMINDS ME OF NAZI GERMANY—FORCING A VACCINE(OF UNPROVEN(CLINICALLY SPEAKING) VALUE–THERE ARE PRESENTLY WARNINGS OUT ABOUT THIS VACCINE–CAUSING ADVERSE EFFECTS–
September 14th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
This is insane. This is a personal choice to take the drug to prevent cervical cancer which at the last i checked was not considered a communicable disease. I remember back in the fifties and sixties women were pushed to take thalidomyde. it caused severe birth defects in their unborn. This drug is NOT proven to be a guarantee against cervical cancer so why does anyone take it???? Drug companies market drugs to sell their drugs at overinflated prices. They buy politicians to make laws to take their drugs. All she wants is an education. NO ONE has the right to force this choice on her.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
My daughters best friend took the Gaurdasil vacine and now has a syndrome very similar to Guillain-Barré syndrome.
She is 21 yrs old and has attacks that render her virtually paralyzed for weeks at a time.She also now has Alopecia, though they say the two illnesses “don’t appear to be related” both came on at the same time and both are caused from the bodies immune system attacking itself.
This vaccine has risks and should be a choice, an INFORMED choice, not a government mandate.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
This should not be a goverment mandate. This vaccinne by definition is discriminatory, if an applicant for resident is 26 or over is exempt of this vaccine. Shouldnt all teenagers between 11 and 25 years old have the same right to be granted with the residency?
September 14th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Thought the US fought for freedom.. was it so they could call the shots? No pun intented, ok maybe just a little bit!
September 14th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
im sorry this is once again the big company controling our country, as for what if she gets married and has sex then thats her and her husbands problem, the chances of her getting the disease from 1 partner r extremely small hell most women get the virus and kill it off with there own immune system quite easily , and do so several time during there life (because of multiply partners. ) problem is everyone is so afraid of evrything that people will by into anything , and the big corparation pay off r government officals and feed them this tripe to help them sleep at night for forcing it on people.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I think that this is a HORRIBLE thing to expect of girls and women who want to come into this country. Gardasil protects against only some viruses and not ALL. For another thing, several young girls have died as the result of this shot! Maybe the percentage isn’t HIGH…..BUT, what if it is your daughter or your granddaughter that dies from the shot!
This is nothing more than the pharmaceutical companies pushing their weight and getting this mandated as required by those wanting to come into our country!!
I absolutely DO NOT want any of my family taking this shot!
September 15th, 2009 at 8:17 am
This vaccine only reduces the chance of getting cervicle cancer by about 30 percent. There have also been some deadly side effects. Although these side affects are rare if it happens to you it is 100 per cent. Is the government willing to assume liability if something happens to this young girl? This vaccine has not been out long enough in my opinion to know what the long tern effects are and for this reason mandating administration of this vaccine is wrong.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
It is completely ridiculous that this gardasil vax is on the list of mandated vaccines for foreigners to have before immigrating. This is definitely Big Pharm conspiracy. Human papillomavirus is not a disease that is inhaled via droplets like measles mumps and rubella. HPV is sexually transmitted not inhaled. High risk strains may cause cervical cancer. Gardasil potentially covers for just 2 of the many high risk strains. There’s a real stink in this mandate and it is BIG Pharm. I am a gynecologist and I say Big Pharm stay out of foreign policy and immigration laws. Good for Simone. She has rights like our own women in the U.S.A.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I don’t think anyone should be forced to do something they don’t want to. This is america and we should be able to choose what goes into our bodies. Whats the point of independence and freedom if everyone starts making decisions for you. I think she did the right thing standing up for herself.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Disgraceful bullying by the biggest aggressor nation. Discrimination of one woman when not mandatory for its own citizens.