‘Dr. Schreiber of San Augustine giving a typhoid innoculation at a rural school, San Augustine County, Texas (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’
Virginia and DC are the only jurisdictions “requiring” that girls entering 6th grade be vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). I think the requirement is ridiculous for a whole variety of reasons (which have nothing to do with the standard “it promotes promiscuity” claptrap) but what’s hilarious about this is that the required vaccination isn’t so much, um, required. In both jurisdictions, parents can opt out of this particular immunization for any reason. In DC, students have to either turn in documentation that they got the vaccine, or a form signed by their parents to opt out. In Virginia, it’s even more lax- if students don’t turn in documentation of getting the shots, it will just be assumed that parents opted out.
Not much of a requirement, eh? I think Inigo Montoya says it better than I can:
Tiffany Baxendell Bridge is an Internet enthusiast and an incurable smartass. When not heckling the neighborhood political scene on Twitter, she can be found goofing off with her ukulele, Bollywood dancing, or obsessing about cult TV. She is That Woman With the Baby In the Bar.
Tiffany lives in Brookland with her husband Tom, son Charlie, and two high-maintenance cats. Read why Tiffany loves DC.
I wonder how/when they will change the requirements now that the FDA recommends an HPV vaccine for boys as well as girls? http://bit.ly/WuygG
It seems fairer and more legitimate to require something from both genders than just one.