Katie Couric's Notebook: Saving Our Daughters
Video: What would you be willing to do to save your daughter's life?
Many parents cheered this summer when the FDA approved a vaccine against human papillomavirus, HPV, for girls. It was a big step in the war on cervical cancer.
HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, causes about 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer, a disease that will kill about 3,700 women this year. Many don't even KNOW they have it.
But, some oppose proposals in 21 states to add the vaccine to the list of shots young girls must get to attend school. Why? One reason is it gives girls the wrong message -- that they're protected against ALL sexually transmitted diseases and therefore, it's ok to have sex.
As the mother of two girls, I understand these concerns. But if there's even a chance the vaccine could one day save their lives, I'm on board. And let's use this opportunity to talk to our girls about relationships and respecting their bodies.
That's a page from my Notebook.