Gardasil?

[RMulieri]

You know i really get tired with all the judgemental posts out there...Whether or not you choose to vaccinate for hpv is a personal/parental choice.I don't agree with the parents that choose not to vaccinate their children whetherit is gardasil or MMR, but that is not for me to decide, and I respect that choice even if i don't agree with it.My only stance on the subject is when I get pts families that are refusing vaccines, is that they have received information about the vaccines and are fully comprehending the nature and consequences of that decision (i have had a set of parents refuse vaccines, and lo and behold their child ended up with Measles and they blamed everyone and anyone though they had refused them)All school districts generally have a vaccination waiver, there should be one available for you to fill out.I agree Mandating this vaccine is unneccessary and frankly none of the schools buisness.

 

[perkinsrose]

You know i really get tired with all the judgemental posts out there...Whether or not you choose to vaccinate for hpv is a personal/parental choice.I don't agree with the parents that choose not to vaccinate their children whetherit is gardasil or MMR, but that is not for me to decide, and I respect that choice even if i don't agree with it.My only stance on the subject is when I get pts families that are refusing vaccines, is that they have received information about the vaccines and are fully comprehending the nature and consequences of that decision (i have had a set of parents refuse vaccines, and lo and behold their child ended up with Measles and they blamed everyone and anyone though they had refused them)All school districts generally have a vaccination waiver, there should be one available for you to fill out.I agree Mandating this vaccine is unneccessary and frankly none of the schools buisness.

I think it depends on state if you can waive. Not all states have the Philosophical waiver--many only Medical and or Religious.

Here's one list of states i found quickly--not sure if its current.

http://www.rense.com/health/no.htm

 

[badblackpug]

If I have to hear one more person say that the vaccine prevents HPV and cervical cancer, I will scream!!!!
The vaccine targets four types of HPV (6, 11, 16 and 18) but it does not protect against all the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Strains 6 & 11 are herpes and 16 & 18 can lead to cancer. BTW, there are 37 or more types of genital HPV and only about 10 can lead to cancer. Therefore, PAP tests are still essential to detect cancer and save lives, as well as condoms, which remain the safest, most effective method for preventing HIV transfer and numerous sexually transmitted diseases. There is also a HPV test that you can request when you get your pap smear.
Studies show that the vaccine only lasts 5 years. So why are girls 9, 10 and 11 getting the shot when the vaccine wears off in the early teen years? From what I read, no boosters are available and they say you are only fully protected once you have the 3 shot series which takes about 9 months to do.
Cervical cancer first starts out as precancerous cells. Left untreated, the cells will then turn into cancer. I can't find the time length it takes for precancerous cells to turn into cancer. I also can't find how long it takes HPV to turn into cancer. The only thing I found was that cervical cancer develops slowly. The simple fact is, lack of pap smears is the most significant risk factor for development of cervical cancer.
We as parents and even teachers need to teach our children about safe sex and the NEED to get routine medical checks. It's not fun getting a pap smear done but it's something that must be done. It will make the difference between life and death.
I speak from experience. When I was 18, precancerous cells were found during a routine pap smear. HPV wasn't talked about then and I'll never know why the cells turned precancerous. I am now 31 and scream from the rooftops how important routine pap smears are. One saved my life!!!

I absolutely agree about Pap tests. ...but, honestly, how many 12, 13, 14 year olds are getting them? How many are honest about their sexual activity? Multiple parteners in younger years ARE a risk factor for HPV.

...and condoms DO NOT protect against HPV. HPV has been found on the scrotum of men, so unless there is a "more inclusive" condom I don't know about...

HPV also does not have the consequences for men that it does for women ... no cervix, no cervical cancer, ... and I am pretty sure it has not been approved for use in males.

It is very difficult to find accurate info. about vaccines. There are a lot of anti-vaccine folks out there. I repeatedly hear "it was released too early" and "people have died from it" but I have found no definitive links that state this is true. I do know, however, that clinical trials are much more exhausitve in the US than they are in other countries. As others have said, you have to weigh the pro's and cons, but please do not go on "all vaccines are bad and must be distrusted" or "it promotes sexual activity" or "it says that are children are sexually active and that is not the type of children we raise." I will include the CDC and FDA links.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm

 

[maymom96]

HPV also does not have the consequences for men that it does for women ... no cervix, no cervical cancer, ... and I am pretty sure it has not been approved for use in males.

Taken from CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-and-men.htm
Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer.Anal cancer is not the same as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more common than anal cancer, but it is not caused by HPV.
Currently, there is no test designed or approved to find HPV in men. The only approved HPV test on the market is for women, for use as part of cervical cancer screening. There is no general test for men or women to check one’s overall “HPV status.” But HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now.

I have a small theory on why there is no vaccine for men yet.

 

[swald91]

Oh, so much controversy over this. My daughter had to get it for school also. I have heard good & bad about it-obviously our pediatrician suggested she get. I just worry in a few years...will there need to be another booster for it?

 

[mrsklamc]

I read an article in a recent reader's digest about a man who had throat cancer they believed to be caused by HPV. I didn't know that was possible until then.

 

[badblackpug]

Taken from CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-and-men.htm
Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer.Anal cancer is not the same as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more common than anal cancer, but it is not caused by HPV.
Currently, there is no test designed or approved to find HPV in men. The only approved HPV test on the market is for women, for use as part of cervical cancer screening. There is no general test for men or women to check one’s overall “HPV status.” But HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now.

I have a small theory on why there is no vaccine for men yet.

Very interesting. Of course I knew about the warts thing, but not the caner thing. I also read that they are testing the HPV vaccine on men...so maybe in a few years...I guess because HPV can be tested via cervical swab on women it is easier to recognize. I also know that certain strains are self limiting and can lay dormant for years, but Gardisil does protect aainst a majority (70%) of the strains that are linked to HPV. The majority of docs that I know recommend it. Those who have children in the age range have vaccinated their children. I have vaccinated and will vaccinate again. Other than soreness at the injection site, my girls have had no adverse reactions.

Again, you have to weigh the "pros" and the "cons." Just remember that one of the "cons" may be that your child may not be able to attend public school.

 

[MommyBryn]

Again, you have to weigh the "pros" and the "cons." Just remember that one of the "cons" may be that your child may not be able to attend public school.

Yep, definitely weigh the pros and cons. But no public school can deny your child admission based on vax status. They make it sound like they can, but by law they cannot.

 

[Karlzmom]

Nobody hopes that their dd will develop cervical cancer, and none of us hope that our dd's have an adverse reaction to a fairly new vaccine. I know in the future I will be able to look my dd in the eye and tell her I did the right thing for her at the time. I did not decide to give her a vaccine that is too new and I knew nothing about. I will tell her that I would not let the school make the decision on whats best for her health. I will tell her that I waited for the research and the facts to come out before I decided to vaccinate her or not. I will tell her taht I didn't choose to vaccinate her because someone was trying to make me feel guilty if I didn't

..I know, we can add that apology to the one for feeding them hotdogs, marachino cherries, anything with nutrisweet, sweet & low or other chemical based sweetner, all trans-fat foods, bottled water, tap water, spring water [that was too close to a factory/dump/farm], using plastic bottles, shower curtains and having carpet in our homes. We can apologize for hairspray, perfume, windex, and letting our teflon pan boil dry. We can do a collective mea culpa for air fresheners, dryer sheets, and indoor air cleaners that produced ozone as a by-product. A whole fashion industry will crop up for sack cloth & ashes to atone for for driving cars, toasting marshmallows over campfires and having 4th of July BBQs.....

 

[RMulieri]

..I know, we can add that apology to the one for feeding them hotdogs, marachino cherries, anything with nutrisweet, sweet & low or other chemical based sweetner, all trans-fat foods, bottled water, tap water, spring water [that was too close to a factory/dump/farm], using plastic bottles, shower curtains and having carpet in our homes. We can apologize for hairspray, perfume, windex, and letting our teflon pan boil dry. We can do a collective mea culpa for air fresheners, dryer sheets, and indoor air cleaners that produced ozone as a by-product. A whole fashion industry will crop up for sack cloth & ashes to atone for for driving cars, toasting marshmallows over campfires and having 4th of July BBQs.....

 

[sk!mom]

My DD will be having her second injection this week. After reading a bit of this thread last night, I got a bit freaked out and second guessed myself but after reading several articles last night, talking with DH, and reviewing my Peds. recommendation regarding this, we will go ahead as scheduled.

DD had no side effects after the first injection.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

If I have to hear one more person say that the vaccine prevents HPV and cervical cancer, I will scream!!!!
The vaccine targets four types of HPV (6, 11, 16 and 18) but it does not protect against all the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Strains 6 & 11 are herpes and 16 & 18 can lead to cancer. BTW, there are 37 or more types of genital HPV and only about 10 can lead to cancer.

This is a Human Papilloma Virus vaccine.............it never was, never will be a herpes vaccine. Please don't continue to pass this info on! This is only one example. Please, do your own research-don't rely on a bunch of strangers on the the DISboards for your medical advice. Thanks!

 

[maymom96]

This is a Human Papilloma Virus vaccine.............it never was, never will be a herpes vaccine. Please don't continue to pass this info on! This is only one example. Please, do your own research-don't rely on a bunch of strangers on the the DISboards for your medical advice. Thanks!

I've done my research which I see not all people have. But I do agree parents do need to do their own research.
Taken from the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/vac-faqs.htm

Is the HPV vaccine effective?
This vaccine is highly effective in preventing four types of HPV in young women who have not been previously exposed to HPV. This vaccine targets HPV types that cause up to 70% of all cervical cancers and about 90% of genital warts. The vaccine will not treat existing HPV infections or their complications.
Will the girls/women who have been vaccinated still need cervical cancer screening?
Yes, they will still need to see their healthcare provider for cervical cancer screening. There are three reasons why women will still need regular cervical cancer screening. First, the vaccine will NOT provide protection against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, so women will still be at risk for some cancers. Second, some women may not get all required doses of the vaccine (or they may not get them at the right times), so they may not get the vaccine’s full benefits. Third, women may also not get the vaccine’s full benefits if they have already acquired a vaccine HPV type.
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 40 types of genital HPV. HPV is the major cause cervical cancer in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women.

http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/features/hpv-cervical-cancer-vaccine-15-facts
1. What is Gardasil?
Gardasil is a vaccine, licensed for use in June 2006, by the FDA. It targets four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) -- HPV-6, 11, 16, and 18. HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for about 70% of all cervical cancers. HPV-6 and -11 cause about 90% of genital warts. HPV is also linked to anal cancer.

 

[maymom96]

I do want to correct something I posted earlier. I should have wrote warts instead of herpes.

 

[hollyd99]

Obviously, the whole point of having the girls get this vaccine when they're so young is to try to stop them from getting the virus when they're older. That's all. Why is that so hard to understand????

Whether you let her have it or not is your decision, and don't let people and their "opinions" cloud yours.


I like how some people here are oblivious to what's going on with kids nowadays.
Kids are reaching puberty younger and yes, kids are having sex younger. Just because they're not having contact in class, does not mean they're not doing things in between class or even skipping class to have it.

It doesn't matter how open or close you are with your kids. They'll still do what they feel like or peer pressured into doing. And if you don't know how important (or remember from when you were young) it is to kids to "fit in", then you're clearly came from an era where you had to walk 20 miles uphill in the snow, barefoot to get to school.


They don't have to be "bad girls" to do this, but they're surrounded with images and media that tells them "it's cool". Miss Jamie Lynn is a perfect example of what I mean. Stop being so naive!

 

[EveDallas]

I'm glad that my sister has decided to hold off on this one. My nieces don't need to be guinea pigs.

 

[luvmy3]

Obviously, the whole point of having the girls get this vaccine when they're so young is to try to stop them from getting the virus when they're older. That's all. Why is that so hard to understand????

Whether you let her have it or not is your decision, and don't let people and their "opinions" cloud yours.


I like how some people here are oblivious to what's going on with kids nowadays.
Kids are reaching puberty younger and yes, kids are having sex younger. Just because they're not having contact in class, does not mean they're not doing things in between class or even skipping class to have it.

It doesn't matter how open or close you are with your kids. They'll still do what they feel like or peer pressured into doing. And if you don't know how important (or remember from when you were young) it is to kids to "fit in", then you're clearly came from an era where you had to walk 20 miles uphill in the snow, barefoot to get to school.


They don't have to be "bad girls" to do this, but they're surrounded with images and media that tells them "it's cool". Miss Jamie Lynn is a perfect example of what I mean. Stop being so naive!



For those who refuse to get their kids the basic immunizations, don't go looking for sympathy when your child catches those diseases.

Whats so hard for you to understand, some of us not wanting our dd's to be guinea pigs?
I like how some people are so oblivious to the fact that just because there is a medication for something that we should be pumping our children full of it.

I respect every parents right to choose whether or not to give gardasil to their dd. I won't however without doing my own research on it. I have read that 90% of cases of HPV (all 40 strains) are taken care of by the body's own immune system, Its that 10% that could lead to, note the word could, cervical cancer. And the vaccine protects against 4 particular strains of HPV, so if my dd does contract HPV she may have one of the 36 other strains that gardasil does not protect against. I bet we won't hear that on the "one less" commercial
I'm sorry but right now its not worth the risk of injecting my dd with a fairly new vaccine just because someday she may have sex and may contract HPV. When more research comes out I will re-think my decision.

 

[MommyBryn]

Obviously, the whole point of having the girls get this vaccine when they're so young is to try to stop them from getting the virus when they're older. That's all. Why is that so hard to understand????

Whether you let her have it or not is your decision, and don't let people and their "opinions" cloud yours.


I like how some people here are oblivious to what's going on with kids nowadays.
Kids are reaching puberty younger and yes, kids are having sex younger. Just because they're not having contact in class, does not mean they're not doing things in between class or even skipping class to have it.

It doesn't matter how open or close you are with your kids. They'll still do what they feel like or peer pressured into doing. And if you don't know how important (or remember from when you were young) it is to kids to "fit in", then you're clearly came from an era where you had to walk 20 miles uphill in the snow, barefoot to get to school.


They don't have to be "bad girls" to do this, but they're surrounded with images and media that tells them "it's cool". Miss Jamie Lynn is a perfect example of what I mean. Stop being so naive!



For those who refuse to get their kids the basic immunizations, don't go looking for sympathy when your child catches those diseases.

I don't think anyone is oblivious...just making different decisions for different reasons. Nothing wrong with that. Especially since many of us truly don't believe in the safety of the vaccine.

And, FWIW, I don't know ANY non-vaxer who hasn't chosen that route after a TON of research and education, and NONE of those people would look for sympathy- most aren't "afraid" of the diseases anyway. I think saying something like that goes to show a lack of understanding, and is pretty judgmental.

Personally, I like threads like this (from a readers POV) because I think they provide a lot of information on both sides for people who wouldn't normally be thinking of these things. Everybody deserves to be educated. And every child deserves to have parents making educated decisions FOR them. Glad to see that being done in lots of cases.

 

[hollyd99]

I don't think anyone is oblivious...just making different decisions for different reasons. Nothing wrong with that. Especially since many of us truly don't believe in the safety of the vaccine.

And, FWIW, I don't know ANY non-vaxer who hasn't chosen that route after a TON of research and education, and NONE of those people would look for sympathy- most aren't "afraid" of the diseases anyway. I think saying something like that goes to show a lack of understanding, and is pretty judgmental.

Personally, I like threads like this (from a readers POV) because I think they provide a lot of information on both sides for people who wouldn't normally be thinking of these things. Everybody deserves to be educated. And every child deserves to have parents making educated decisions FOR them. Glad to see that being done in lots of cases.

True.

My point was that some people are in shock that kids are more "active" now. And they's why they are trying to get the kids vaccinated so young.

Whether it works or not, I'm not one to say.

PS: I will retract my "whiney people" statement!

 

[RMulieri]

i agree with the poster who says kids are getting sexually active at younger ages.I have a neighborhood girl whose Mom and i are close .The girl is 11 yrs/old ( got her period at 10)and has had sex already.This Mom thought her darling daughter would never ever do such a thing because they 1) Very religious,praticing Catholics (i am not bashing Catholics-I am one) 2)they are buddies and have a very close mother /daughter relationship (they do).They are a close knit family....She found condoms in her daughters room ( i guess i can say i am glad she is protecting herself).So even the best relationship with your kid does not guarantee anything.It certainly helps, but kids will do what they want to do.