Story: New Vaccine for Girls Prevents Cervical Cancer, 07/03/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/vaccine_7-03.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Gardasil?

2. What is cervical cancer?

3. Why do more poor women die of cervical cancer?

4. How does the vaccine work?

5. Who should get the vaccine?

6. Why are some conservative and religious groups opposed to mandatory vaccination?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you think everyone should have the Gardasil vaccine before they can go to school? Why or why not?

2. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has over $60 billion, has expressed interest in funding a vaccination program in poor countries. This foundation is currently working to treat HIV-AIDS and Malaria. Do you think cervical cancer is as important? Why or why not? If you were in charge of the foundation, how would you decide which diseases to focus on?

3. Investigate programs in the United States that try to help people who can't afford health insurance. Are these programs effective? What changes, if any, would you make?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.