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Parents- HPV vaccine for girls......yes or no?
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I have 3 children. None of them are the age for this vaccine. While I am not anti-vax at all, I did not vaccinate on the schedule recommended. However, my kids are fully vaccinated at 8,7 and 4. Some other parents and I were just discussing this vaccine the other day. We are all kind of on the fence about it. I am not sure I want to subject my daughter to this at 11-12 years old. Maybe at 15-16 when my kids can make a decision about this also. I am not naive, nor am I religious or prudish. I just don't believe my daughter NEEDS this vaccine at 11. As parents, we all set out to do our best by our children. We read the literature and pour over the documentation. Not everything you read is conclusive one way or the other so you kind of have to make a decision and hope it doesn't bite you in the *kitten*. Just as I would feel awful if my child got HPV, I would feel just as equally bad if my child suffered an adverse reaction to the shot. It just hasn't been around long enough for me. And I WOULD NOT get the vaccine myself at age 40 if it was offered.
Waiting until 15-16 may be okay, but then again it may not. Many kids are already sexually active by that age. It is best to get this one done (it's a series of three shots) before the kids are engaging in sexual behavior. My oldest daughter will be 10 soon. I'd like to see the full series done before she hits 11. Not that I expect her to be sexually active at 11 (gah!), but because I know kids start experimenting around age 12-13, and many are having sex by age 15. I'd love to think my super special parenting skills will shield them from ever doing anything wrong, but I'm not a dumb *kitten*. You are too old to get the vaccine, as am I (I'm 36). I wish I had been able to get it (I was just past the upper age limit when it came out). It might have spared me some abnormal pap screenings and a LEEP procedure in my late 20s. So far that hasn't recurred, but I'll have to worry about it the rest of my life. I don't want my four girls to have to go through any of that.
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I have 3 children. None of them are the age for this vaccine. While I am not anti-vax at all, I did not vaccinate on the schedule recommended. However, my kids are fully vaccinated at 8,7 and 4. Some other parents and I were just discussing this vaccine the other day. We are all kind of on the fence about it. I am not sure I want to subject my daughter to this at 11-12 years old. Maybe at 15-16 when my kids can make a decision about this also. I am not naive, nor am I religious or prudish. I just don't believe my daughter NEEDS this vaccine at 11. As parents, we all set out to do our best by our children. We read the literature and pour over the documentation. Not everything you read is conclusive one way or the other so you kind of have to make a decision and hope it doesn't bite you in the *kitten*. Just as I would feel awful if my child got HPV, I would feel just as equally bad if my child suffered an adverse reaction to the shot. It just hasn't been around long enough for me. And I WOULD NOT get the vaccine myself at age 40 if it was offered.
One of my friends in high school, his girlfriend lost her virginity at 11. So it can and does happen. I feel I would rather protect my son long before the subject of sex comes up.4 -
I never got it because at the time it was new and there were all these scares about getting sick from it or dying.0
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I have 3 children. None of them are the age for this vaccine. While I am not anti-vax at all, I did not vaccinate on the schedule recommended. However, my kids are fully vaccinated at 8,7 and 4. Some other parents and I were just discussing this vaccine the other day. We are all kind of on the fence about it. I am not sure I want to subject my daughter to this at 11-12 years old. Maybe at 15-16 when my kids can make a decision about this also. I am not naive, nor am I religious or prudish. I just don't believe my daughter NEEDS this vaccine at 11. As parents, we all set out to do our best by our children. We read the literature and pour over the documentation. Not everything you read is conclusive one way or the other so you kind of have to make a decision and hope it doesn't bite you in the *kitten*. Just as I would feel awful if my child got HPV, I would feel just as equally bad if my child suffered an adverse reaction to the shot. It just hasn't been around long enough for me. And I WOULD NOT get the vaccine myself at age 40 if it was offered.
Look up the statistics of "tweens" reporting oral sex and mutual petting. Especially the girls. They feel like they won't be labeled as a prude if they just blow a guy, and then they will fit in. I read an article last week when I was down a rabbit hole at work, and can't seem to find it. It was enough to make me sit down and talk with my 10 year old again to find out if she had more specific questions than just the changes that are going on in her body and blatantly asking her if she had any questions about sex.
My mother and both her sisters had cervical cancer, and my mother lost a good portion of her fun bits to vulvar cancer. I've seen what this does. Its no different than protecting them from polio in my eyes.
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I received the Gardasil vaccine shortly after it became available, as did my brothers. None of us have experienced any side effects since then, along with 99.9% of people who received it. Don't listen to the testimonials or personal accounts though, listen to the actual statistics and science behind it. The benefits far outweigh any potential risk there might be. I have yet to hear of any valid reasons for foregoing the HPV vaccine.6
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What is there to be undecided about when it comes to reducing your child's risk of a cancer? Explain.7
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Both my boys will get it at the recommended age.0
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Yes my daughter had it. My sons would of too but was not offered to boys at that time.
Is now offered free to boys and girls in high school here ( in Australia)
As part of my job I do school vaccinations. Have given literally thousands over the years.
We have never had any adverse effects other than the usual minor ones you get with any vaccination.2 -
I didn't get it in my early 20's because it was too new. My doctor was against it. Now that my daughter will be 10, the questions will start to pop up at visits. I feel like better sex education would be better in the long run. I'll probably delay it, but I plan on talking to her about sex, the pressure she may get from boys, sex myths spread around by teenagers, and the impact sex has. I feel that too many parents make sex/*kitten* too taboo and it has bad results. I'm sure I'll get the vaccine for her later. I feel 10-11 is too young.1
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10-11 may not be too young. Kids have sex. Cancer kills.2
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My 13 year old son got the first of the series at his yearly appointment last week. No side effects.
Daughter will start her series when she turns 12. Whatever I can do to help my kids grow up healthy, I will do.
I am not condoning sexual contact outside of marriage. However, everyone ends up having unprotected sex at some point in their lives or there'd be no more people......3 -
Absolutely. Nobody deserves cervical cancer.1
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I wish they had this vaccine in the 60's! I was 12 when I was raped and never told anyone. When I was 17 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, because the man who raped me had HPV. My daughter was the first in line when I heard about the vaccine.8
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As a person who almost died from HPV throat cancer it is a no brainer for me. I look at it as a HPV cancer vaccine. Also, as one of the advocates to help get the vaccine fully covered for boys in Ontario I know it is not covered in every province yet.6
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My daughter was vaccinated in her teens and she's now 29. When she was in her early 20's she developed Guillian Barre syndrome has been linked to vaccinations. Is it theory or fact, I can't say. This vaccination was just in a long line of what she received through out her childhood. I have no regrets giving her the HPV. She pulled through GBS and no link could be made to the vaccinations. Damned if you do, damned if you don't0
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Both of my boys will get it. I think it's important to do our part in maintaining public health. It would be irresponsible not to.0
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devil_in_a_blue_dress wrote: »Just a couple, although, my friend works for a pharmaceutical company that no longer endorses the vaccine.....received a lot of complaints. Many were dismissed but the ones that were actually following through were those where the girls were having problems with their reproductive systems. She only has boys but has told me if she had girls.....she obviously wouldn't recommend it.
I would listen to your doctor over a friend at a pharmaceutical company. No offense to your friend but she isn't a doctor. While I know about the reports of complications (maybe seem to be related to lyme that I've seen), as somebody who was too old for the vaccine who then had rounds of procedures, surgeries - if my parents had not had me vaccinated, I would never forgive them. People make it sound like cervical cancer is simple to test for and treat because it is SO slow - and yes, compared to other cancers that's very true. But let me assure you, the process of paps every 3 month, colposcopies, LEEPS, and hysterectomies in your 20's are no joke and you really shouldn't do that to your kid. I was lucky and didn't need radiation or chemo. But there's always that possibility. And to be very clear, I never missed an annual exam - if you are one of the unlucky ones, you have to wait out for these cells to change. They don't treat you until the cells change - which can take years. So you have to consider the mental anguish. Mine was over a 6 year process. They are are far more likely, given the prevalence of HPV to develop cervical cancer than experience a complication from the vaccine.
I would strongly encourage you talk to you doctor about your medical concerns. Not the internet and not a friend.
No doctor tells you not to get it. Males carry the virus. There are different strains in different countries worse than the US. So if someone comes from abroad and she meets them, has sex. Boom. She's got a worse kind. The bubble effect didn't work.
Gen X we all have it. We all have seen friends get cancer in our 20s/30s. You have to be diligent in going to the doctor. You just aren't when you're young. And even as an adult? Insurance? What if she doesn't have good insurance. Things get put off. You're relying on your immune system to fight it off.
Cancer? Or the shot. Pick.
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Both of my daughters got the vaccine. They are still very annoying, but no ill effects from that or any other vaccine they've received.2
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I've been following this thread and don't think I've seen this observation yet. In my experience, teens don't consider the possibility of contracting HPV when making the decision whether or not to abstain. STDs in general, yes, but the vaccine only protects against the one type. I really don't think getting a child vaccinated will cause said child to abandon their upbringing and feel the parents are telling them it's ok to go ahead and have sex. I just don't see the downside of protecting your children from a preventable, potentially deadly disease.7
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HPV is a required vaccine in the state of Illinois. Since I work in education, I would (&have) get my child vaccinated.0
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I have never been vaccinated for HPV, but I also never was really educated on the vaccine. Where I live, I also don't hear many girls getting vaccinated for HPV. Really it depends on what you side with, some believe there is no need if you are careful with who you sleep with while other's feel it is a well informed preventive decision for the future. Many parents still feel there is no need to receive a relatively new vaccine when it was never needed before. My mom never forced us to receive the vaccine. If you feel like it would be better for your children to receive the vaccination, even if for your own state of mind, then I don't see the harm.
Random question: Is it better to get the vaccine if your have a genetic disposition to have cervical cancer, etc? I'm not sure if either relate completely, but just an honest question.0 -
Males can get HPV-caused cancer as well.2
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All 5 of my kids received the HPV vaccine...even though it's totally not necessary.
They'd never ever....
oh yes they would!
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My daughter was one of the very first to receive the vaccine she is also a diabetic. My daughter is now a research scientist and is grateful she is one of her few peers that received it. My nephews are now getting it.3
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For those worried about giving "consent" for sex in teen years... My step kids have had the series (14 years old, one boy one girl) and my 13 year old has had it. My other two daughters are not old enough yet, but they will have it. No one was told "this is an STD vaccine!" It was "yeah, you're getting another shot, and this one's a b. Sorry."
You don't have to tell your 12 year old WHAT the vaccine is for. Do you explain tetanus and polio and measles and flu? No. You just give your kid the shot and move on.6 -
HPV is a rather low risk issue; however if you have the means to get vaccinated for anything - do it!!! There is no logical fact-based rationale to not getting vaccinated unless you have some underlying medical condition or one of the willfully ignorant anti-vax crowd.
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Yes, absolutely.0
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wisdomfromyou wrote: »I don't mean to start anything...(I did not read the thread)...but is it too much to suggest abstinence? Worked for many - without the vaccines.
Having lots of partners is bad period. Finding a steady, non-sleazy/non-cheating partner when ready for something serious and sticking with him - that sounds like a nice option without complications. No?
Or has this become the domain of fairy-tales in our world? ...
Yes. It is too much. You can never protect your children from the rest of the world 100%. You can preach to them and lecture them on what YOU prefer in a sex life and partner, but as the animals we are curiosity happens and I would rather my son not end up being a carrier because I chose to ignore the fact that humans are sexual beings.6 -
I was too old when the vaccine came along. My daughter just started her series, and my boys will too as they come of age.
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I've researched it too and I don't think its worth the risks. But my daughter is a toddler so its definitely possible I'll change my mind, as of right now I do not intend to get it for her.1
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