HPV vaccination pros/cons/information.

[Aveisenim]

My DS is coming up to the age where it's in the vaccination schedule. He's had all the others and will have the rest but I'm really not sure about this one. I don't feel I know enough about it at all. It's not something we thought about as originally it was specifically for girls, then they extended it to boys last year.

This isn't about whether vaccinations are inherently good/bad. We have chosen to vaccinate after researching etc but with this vaccine everything I've found is aimed at parents of girls, not boys. So any information is appreciated.

[Aveisenim]

Anyone?

[walksonthebeach]

We decided to not get our DS vaccinated last year. Not because we're against vaccinations but for the same reason you gave. We didn't have enough information about it. We were told he can have it up to age 16 so we might let him get it in a couple of years but for now we're holding off.

[bluestarsatnightfall]

I'd rather trust someone in the medical field then the internet. If your son wants to have it let himz

[EvilPea]

This is one I was considering paying for, for my ds before they introduced it for boys.
It protects against so many cancers for them and for others, seems a no brainier to me.

[BarbeDeMaman]

My DD was due the vaccination 6 years ago. We got the permission slip on a Tuesday for a vaccination that was happening on the Thursday. It seemed very rushed with little information. We have never questioned vaccinations but this one we knew nothing about so I rang my GP to ask their opinion. They said they wouldn't for various reasons (none of which were side effects). It seemed a coherent, sensible argument so we declined at that time. As it happened DD went through a period of ill health over the following 2 years so I was glad we hadn't (I think I would have been hard pressed not to think her ill health was connected.) Anyway, we have since discussed it further with the GP and a second GP and DD and would now like her to have It but we can't until this lockdown is over.

Unfortunately it is very hard to have this discussion as people tend to be vaccination good/not vaccinating stupid or vaccination bad/it's all a conspiracy and there's no in between or room for reasonable discussion. As far as I remember when dd was due her MMR there was lots of discussions, papers to read, doctors willing to discuss the bad press and parents fears. It didn't (to me anyway) feel as steamrolled as the HPV vaccine.

[Cheeeeislifenow]

Isn't the idea to stop the spread of HPV?

[Aveisenim]

@bluestarsatnightfall my DS is very stubborn and hates injections. It doesn't matter how we explain it to him, he'll say no to any vaccination. Simply because he hates needles. He's fine once he's had his vaccinations, but generally we don't talk to him about it until a week or so before it's due as in 'this is what's going to happen, this is why we think it's best for your health, it's booked for this date. Do you have any questions?'. He's not yet 12 so the gillick competence theory doesn't come into play yet. We give him as much autonomy as we can over his health but if we decide to go ahead with the vaccination, then it will be non-negotiable while he's under 16. However, currently I can't explain why it would be best for his health, which is why I'm asking for information.

I understand fully why it's being advised for girls, but like someone posted above, this vaccine has felt very steamrollered unlike other ones. Glad to know it can be delayed while we get more information, I'll ask to speak to somone at our GP as that will be where he has the vaccination most likely anyway as he's home ed.

The sites I've been looking on are medical ones but the information given hasn't felt in depth enough and as I said, seems mostly aimed at parents of girls. The NHS one has been slightly better but nothing about possible side effects etc and I remember there been quite a few news articles over the years as some girls became really sick after having the vaccination.

Hence asking on here as it has a wealth of experiences and information. Thank you for getting what I mean @EvilPea, it's only been around about a decade so still a relatively new vaccine anyway.

[Malone98]

I was the first year of girls to get vaccinated in the UK. However, we decided that I wouldn't get the injection. At the time (not that long ago!) there was very little information about it, but it seemed like there could have been some bad side effects (even blood clotting). Also, apparently, it would only be effective for 6 years (when I would have been 18). I just agreed with my mum that I wouldn't have sex before 18! I realise that it was supposed to protect against cancers, but if it was only going to last for 6 years and might have had some very bad effects (some girls in America had died of it at the time it was introduced in UK), then it wasn't worth the risk.

Don't want to be that person who comes in trying to make it sound scary or negative, and I'm sure information has increased since I could have had the vaccine, but I didn't consider it worthwhile. Xx

[johnd2]

I just had a very quick Google and found all this detailed information, they even have a section on transgender so they certainly don't just aim at girls
www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine/

According to it, the vaccination now lasts at least 10 years, but experts expect it to last much longer.

Just in a non scientific point, the NHS does not spend on vaccinations or other treatment unless there is very good quality evidence that it is safe, effective, and the benefits outweigh the risks and costs. This is across the whole of society rather than individually.
You are absolutely right to become informed so that you know if you are in a group that would either benefit more or less than the assumption. But i would strongly recommend challenging your reasoning if it's something that would apply to a large number of people.
So if you have a rare blood clotting disorder that raises the risk of complications that might be a reason against it. But if you feel it's less useful for boys because fewer cancers are caused by it, or he's too young to have sex, that reasoning would apply to huge numbers of people and will have already been taking into account.
Good luck! I hate injections too so i have to be very rational about them!

[Pipandmum]

HPV is not just the leading cause of cervical cancer in women but is the leading cause of penile and throat cancer in men, and anal cancer in both. It can be passed by vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person or by kissing if they have bleeding gums or mouth sores. While many kids say they will not have sex until a certain age, many do not consider that to include oral sex. Plus the protection now lasts much longer (also shots are repeated now).
After research I paid for my son to have two injections (it's two if under 14, three if older). I can't see a downside - three of my extended family have died from throat cancer and I know three women who have had cervical cancer (one died). There are always risks with any medical procedure but the benefits far far far outweigh the risks with HPV vaccinations unless your child has a particular underlying condition.
I think it's the sex connection that puts people off. But if you were told you could have a vaccination that would prevent you from having a heart attack, would you hesitate?