*Sigh* The "controversy." Because some right-winger said they have a problem with the big, bad government requiring sweet, innocent little girls to get "risky" adult shots, we're now all talking about HPV. Is this autism all over again? Frankly, I'm not sure how I feel about a mandate. But I am in favor of not being stupid. And I'm in favor of public health. You shouldn't give your daughter (or son!) Gardasil because the government told you to. You should give your child Gardasil because you're a good parent and you're not dumb. And because the CDC, AAP, AAFP, ACOG, and ANCI all think you should. In the US alone, about 12,000 women a year get cervical cancer and 4,000 die from it. HPV is the #1 sexually transmitted infection and causes all sorts of other things we're squeamish about in women AND men. Warts. Other cancers of the mouth, throat, and body parts you'd prefer not to think about. Worldwide 233,000 women die from cerv...