Israel’s Health Ministry has decided to offer free human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV) for eight grade girls. The vaccine could prevent thousands of “nonfatal” cases of genital warts and precancerous growths.
Since HPV can be sexually transmitted it’s likely that certain Orthodox sects of the country might turn down the vaccination, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Critics argue that it could also give some girls of any background confidence that they can have sex without worrying about HPV, even though the shot does not prevent infection with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
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