Gardasil Controversy Flares Over Immigrant Women
“Cervical Cancer Shot” Now Required for Women Entering the U.S.
Oct 2, 2008
Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, did not come onto the market without controversy, and the vaccine now has caused more anger among advocates for the rights of immigrant women. The Gardasil “one less” campaign has focused on the STD HPV. When left untreated, HPV can lead to cervical cancer. While early feminist response applauded the introduction of such a vaccine, the acclaim soon turned to anger at lawmakers.
Gardasil Becomes Mandatory
In several states, legislators argued that because cervical cancer is such a serious health risk, girls should be required to get the Gardasil vaccine in the early years of adolescence. Many feminist leaders argued against this forced vaccination as they believe requiring Gardasil takes a reproductive health issue out of the hands of girls and young women.
Gardasil Controversy and Immigration
In recent weeks, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a new decision regarding required vaccinations, making it mandatory for women applying for a visa to have the Gardasil vaccine before entering the country. The National Coalition for Immigrant Woman’s Rights, the largest advocacy group dedicated to protecting this group of women, issued a statement against the requirement of Gardasil. NOW, the country’s largest feminist organization, supports NCIWR’s position. Both groups believe the requirement violates the reproductive rights of immigrant women.
Gardasil and the Reproductive Rights Movement
Requiring someone to get the Gardasil shot means making decisions regarding that woman’s reproductive health. Because the shot, which many mistakenly call the “cervical cancer vaccine,” only guards women who get cancer because of a certain mutation of HPV, is only helpful is a woman has HPV, the decision to require the vaccine is mandating a reproductive health choice.
Immigrant Women's Healthcare Options
The decision to require Gardasil is particularly ironic considering the poor quality of healthcare typically available to immigrant women. Many legislators, some of the same ones who support mandatory Gardasil shots, argue against granting free healthcare to immigrants on the basis that these women are not citizens of this country and that the privatization of healthcare is the preferred system. Yet these legislators have no problem allowing regulations that require women to have an expensive shot before entering the country. As only one company manufactures this type of shot, the government is granting significant payment to Gardasil’s parent company for these shots.
Alternatives to Gardasil Requirement
An alternative to the Gardasil debate would be to offer free STD testing and reduced-cost treatment to all low-income women. Doing so would allow immigrant women to treat HPV when they get it rather than allowing it to go untreated because they cannot afford the cost of healthcare.
