Results from last week's online poll 4/23/07

the Southeast Missourian's online poll asked, "Should insurance companies be requried to cover the HPV vaccine for women?" Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100. (338 votes)

* 80 percent: Yes

* 15 percent: No

* 4 percent: no opinion

Comments:n "A series of vaccines is a lot cheaper than the cost of testing after one abnormal pap. Colposcopy isn't cheap -- it's in their best financial interest to cover it."

• "That should be up to the insurance companies to decide. If they cover the small cost of the HPV vaccine, they'll make up for it in higher premiums anyway."
• "Insurance companies are a rip-off."
• "If insurance covers DPT, polio, MMR etc., -- it should also cover this vaccine which could prevent cancer. It should be cheaper to cover the vaccine than cancer."
• "If insurance companies cover Viagra for men the least they can do is help a woman avoid cancer if they can."
• "My insurance covers other vaccines; why not this one? It greatly decreases the chance of contracting various problems and dying from a very serious cancer. They should at least cover the vaccine when given to children."
• "Medical insurance should have to cover everything to do with the corrective and preventive maintenance of the human body. This pretty much covers everything but boob jobs. Unless we're talking reduction, which would prevent back problems."
• "Would they require all young boys to get it also as it helps prevent rectal cancer and penile cancer?"
• "The government should stop forcing stuff like this on people and businesses."
• "Drug companies have priced it way-way too high."
• "In the long run, it could save them a lot of money reflecting on insurance premiums. And could save the women from lots of health problems."
• "HPV is so common these days, and the cost for women to prevent themselves from it is very high. So yes, I think insurance companies should cover it."
• "They should provide contraceptives to the young ones so they don't get the stuff in the first place."
• "If they are paying for any other vaccine, of course they should!"
• "You'll pay for it in the way of premium."