VOA标准英语2011--Medical Panel Recommends Boys Get Controversial Vaccine

 Medical Panel Recommends Boys Get Controversial Vaccine¹

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may soon recommend that boys and girls get a vaccine protecting them from the human papilloma viruses, a group of viruses that are transmitted sexually and that can cause cervical and other cancers. Until now, the CDC had recommended only that girls get the vaccine before they become sexually active. But opposition² to the vaccine has been strong in the United States. The new, broader recommendation is likely to add fuel to the controversy³.

HPV, the human papilloma virus, is common. Eighty percent of women have it at some point in their lives, often without ill effects.

But HPV can cause cervical cancer. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Gardisil, a vaccine that protects against the virus. Since then, however, less than 50 percent of American girls have received the HPV vaccine, a number the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, calls "disappointing."

The controversy stems from the fact that HPV is sexually transmitted. Some U.S. governors wanted all girls in their states to get the vaccine. But many parents have resisted the vaccination⁴ programs because they think they could encourage risky⁵ sexual behavior.

"Since this is for a sexually transmitted infection, it is important that parents have the right to vaccinate⁶ their children or not," said conservative activist⁷ Linda Klepacki.

A CDC advisory⁸ committee is now recommending to the federal health agency that boys, too, get the vaccine. The reason: HPV, passed on through sexual contact, can also cause head and neck, anal and penile cancers.

Most doctors would like parents to focus on preventing cancer and not view disease as a moral issue.

"These vaccines⁹ are very important, they are as important as polio and mumps¹⁰, and all the other vaccines, that young kids receive," said Dr. Eric Genden is with the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

The CDC would like to see greater immunity¹¹: if boys get this vaccine, it means fewer of them will develop genital warts¹² and various cancers. It also means fewer girls will be infected by them and run the risk of cervical cancer.

New research indicates that HPV can also cause heart disease. And with heart disease the leading cause of death globally, that's one more argument in favor of this controversial vaccine.

The CDC recommendation that boys get the HPV vaccine is pending¹³ but almost certain. The CDC typically follows the advice of its scientific advisory committees.

1 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

5 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

6 vaccinate   

vt.给…接种疫苗；种牛痘

参考例句：

• Local health officials then can plan the best times to vaccinate people.这样，当地的卫生官员就可以安排最佳时间给人们接种疫苗。
• Doctors vaccinate us so that we do not catch smallpox.医生给我们打预防针使我们不会得天花。

7 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

8 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

9 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

10 mumps   

n.腮腺炎

参考例句：

• Sarah got mumps from her brother.萨拉的弟弟患腮腺炎，传染给她了。
• I was told not go near Charles. He is sickening for mumps.别人告诉我不要走近查尔斯， 他染上了流行性腮腺炎。

11 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

12 warts   

n.疣( wart的名词复数 )；肉赘；树瘤；缺点

参考例句：

• You agreed to marry me, warts and all! 是你同意和我结婚的，我又没掩饰缺陷。 来自辞典例句
• Talk about trying to cure warts with spunk-water such a blame fool way as that! 用那样糊涂蛋的方法还谈什么仙水治疣子！ 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

13 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。