Felicia
1 post
Mar 15, 2007
8:50 AM
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We did an article on the new the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine last fall, but since then, it seems like everyone is trying to get you to prevent cervical cancer via Guardasil - the new HPV vaccine produced by Merck. The governor of Texas recently signed legislation requiring all girls receive the series of shots in order to enter 6th grade - and people on both sides of the issue are fighting mad.
This vaccine is less than four years old so no long-term studies have been conducted. Nobody knows what this vaccine will do later on to the women receiving it. Plus the vaccine protects against only four strains of HPV. If New York suddenly mandated that all girls between the ages of 9 and 15 have this vaccine, would you vaccinate your daugher? Why or why not?
Last Edited on 23-Mar-2007 10:52 AM
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PegK
2 posts
Mar 23, 2007
10:52 AM
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I have started the vaccination process with my 2 teen age daughters on the recommendation of our family doctor.
I don't feel that it should be mandatory, though. I think it is up to the individual and their health care professionals to decide whether it is right for them.
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omgirl
1 post
Mar 23, 2007
11:13 AM
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my teenage daughter is about to get her third HPV booster of the series, on the recommendation of our OB/GYN. on one hand i am worried because i feel our children are the "guinea pigs" when it comes to these things (much like women in general are the guinea pigs when it comes to most of issues regarding sexual protection/contraception). however, in these times i am worried about the alternative.
i do not think it should be mandated - like anything, it should be about free choice.
and i wonder why there are no male HPV vaccines, given they are 50% of the problem. there's a topic for you!
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Felicia
9 posts
Mar 23, 2007
11:16 AM
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I was wondering about the male connection to HPV, too. But I guess since it is not a disease men can get - only carry - it is not seen as being "vaccine worthy" for the other half of the population. Surprised?
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Kiai :)
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omgirl
3 posts
Mar 23, 2007
11:21 AM
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right - and men don't get pregnant either, even though they are 50% of that situation.... so oral contraceptives are not really taking off in that department - it always ends up being the women's responsibility, doesn't it? :-)
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kmassaro
Guest
Mar 23, 2007
1:08 PM
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And what about other vaccines? I don't have children of my own but I have been hearing horror stories about vaccines related to autism and allergies. Scary stuff. I think those vaccines are mandatory for school-age children.
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NaughtybyNature
1 post
Mar 23, 2007
2:04 PM
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Believe it or not my 11 year old is up for the vaccine since last check up... Will I do it? But off course. Does it scare me? Yes, because we really don't know the long term side effects of such recent vaccine... Make it mandatory? Absolutely not! Who the heck is the government to mandate anything in my household?!
But most of all, it is still up to us to educate our kids the best we can as to the right and wrong choices in life... On the other hand, illness sometimes don't choose a person... you, for one reason or the other are just pre-dispose to that.
Last Edited on 23-Mar-2007 2:08 PM
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Felicia
12 posts
Mar 23, 2007
3:30 PM
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Gheesh, Naughty, age 11?!?
I'm not quite understanding this sudden urgency to get every female on the planet in this age group vaccinated. This whole HPV thing isn't new information. The only thing that is new - TOO new - is this vaccine and the millions Merck will probably make from it...
Curious, though: for you ladies whose daughters are being vaccinated - did your insurance cover it or are the costs out of pocket?
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Kiai :)
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lovinlife
1 post
Mar 23, 2007
7:07 PM
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Please excuse me if I ramble but this is my first time on a message board but I think this is an EXTREMELY important topic, and so much deeper then just the vaccine. A few years ago I experienced an outbreak of HPV. It completely mortified me. I could not believe the doctor when she had no answers for me. She could not tell me how long I had it. Whom, I could have possibly contracted it from. Nothing, only what the treatment was and that I should not worry this was common among many women. She explained to me that many women have it and it can remain dormant for years until something triggers it. Something??? What did I do to trigger it? It could have been a cold or just stress. I say all that to say; this is deeper then the vaccine. People, young women and men need to understand the severity of this disease. Men can carry it and pass it on for years and never have symptoms or signs. Women can have it for years before an outbreak. This is a disease that can easily be spread even when men are wearing protection. Where is the education? Will a vaccine really protect when there are so many unknowns about the disease?
Last Edited on 23-Mar-2007 7:20 PM
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Felicia
13 posts
Mar 24, 2007
5:31 AM
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I'm sorry to hear about your experience with HVP, Life. I agree with you, though. It almost feels like an important step was flat out skipped: the one between awareness and treatment.
I'm not saying thee vaccine isn't important, but it isn't the only thing we can do to keep cervical cancer at bay. Do they even talk about HPV in school sex ed classes? Are GYNs giving their patients information about it at all?
It just feels like the main motivation for getting the treatment out is $. Maybe Merck will use some of their profits and build a better education campaign (that "One less" commercial drives me CRAZY)...
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Kiai :)
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PegK
5 posts
Apr 01, 2007
2:49 PM
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I was just at Oprah.com to get info about a show that aired this week about Rene Syler getting a double mastectomy.
It seems as though the second half of the show was about the HPV vaccine. In case you missed the show, you might want to check it out.
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Felicia
17 posts
Apr 02, 2007
7:10 AM
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I saw the show, Peg, and was quite upset with the resident expert who appeared to talk about HPV. She gave out a bit of mis-information - specifically, she said that a Pap test can detect HPV, which it does not. A Pap only picks up abnormalities in the cervical cells; to determine if those abnormalities are caused by HPV, women need to specifically request an HPV test.
Information truly is power...
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Kiai :-)
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abatchelor
Guest
Apr 07, 2007
7:55 AM
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Thanks ladies for this discussion on HPV. My GYN gave me a pamphlet in November, and I did what busy women do, sometimes, decided not to read it. I have two daughters 13 and 10, so after reading the HVP chat, I too will educate myself. I lost a sister to HIV, who lived 10 years longer than her diagnosis and the one thing she taught me was doctors do treat patients and dis-ease like guinea pigs, so be careful of the meds they recommend. I beleive that it was the meds in her final stage that took her life, not the virus. Another story, another time.
AB
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