HPV, also known as Human Papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with a diagnosis rate of about 6.2 million patients every year.  Some of the 100 different strains can cause genital warts or the deadly cervical cancer.

In 2006, a vaccine called Gardasil was developed and approved by the FDA.  Girls ages nine to twenty-six were able to receive Gardasil and, more recently, it has become accessible for boys in this age range as well.

With the GOP race for candidacy heating up, a hot topic for debate is whether or not the vaccine should be government mandated.

On one end of the fight is Texas governor Rick Perry, who in 2007 passed a bill that required all girls in Texas to get the vaccine.

On the other end of the fight is Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachman, who claims she was “personally offended for all the little girls who were forced to get a government injection,” by Perry.

So what do South Lakes females think about the issue?  Some believe this vaccine is necessary and should be required by law because 260,000 men and women die annually from HPV.

“I think it’s important that teenage girls get this shot and be informed about the benefits,” said senior Neda Mameghani.

“I am for mandating that girls get it,” said junior Rachel Berman.  “It saves lives and the government should have to pay for it so girls won’t die or get diseased.”

Others, however, feel that they should be free to choose for themselves whether or not they want to receive it, considering its side effects including nausea, fainting, swelling, and itching near the injection site.

“I don’t think it needs to be mandated, it’s a personal choice,” said senior Aliya Ford.

“I think that as long as abortion is an individual’s choice, this vaccine should be too,” said junior Erin Flattery.