HPV vaccines.

[Katedotness1963]

Have your teenagers had these jabs? Are you worried about side effects? If you decided against them, can I ask why?

[charlmum60]

I decided against the second jab because I didnt feel I had enough information to support having the vaccine (in hindsight I would not have let dd have the first jab either). My Dd has Hypermobility so struggles with joints and I just didnt want to risk the jabs in view of the possible negative side affects ...if someone gave me a guarantee I would fine but given that this is not possible as yet - I'd rather not take the risk.

[dementedpixie]

My dd has had both. No side effects from either of them

[Trailedanderror]

Ni side effects for my DDs- I've looked into getting it privately for ds but it's £££

[Ttbb]

I decided against it myself as a teenager. It was very new at the time and there were a lot of reports of things going wrong. Servers reactions, a couple of deaths etc. I wasn't anywhere near having sex so I decided to postpone it. In the end I didn't need it (got married to my first boyfriend who didn't have it).

[Anatidae]

Not old enough yet but I will absolutely insist my son has one.

I work in drug development and safety by the way and see safety data every day.

[Ttbb]

I thought they weren't offered to boys?

[Anatidae]

Depends where you are. HPV is a major cause of male cancers and oral cancers too.
Ds will be having it even if we have to source and pay privately. It’s illogical to me that only girls are offered it.

[Ttbb]

I think the reasoning was that girls were more susceptible for cancers resulting from HPV and if you immunised the girls the boys wouldn't get it either? Seemed silly to me at any rate. It's a shame that it is so prevalent.

[MedSchoolRat]

DD has had both. A lot of girls were hysterical in the queue waiting. So DD went around mothering them all which she quite enjoyed, really. I gather the kids were the same when DS got his meningitis jab (widespread mini hysterics).

DD said her arm was quite sore afterwards, too, but only from the first jab, 2nd one was non-event, so I assume that's something to do with how the jab goes in the arm.

I've read the Danish studies can't find any good quality studies, though & theory about who is at risk of POTS or similar after the jab. DD has lots of friends who tick these supposed high-risk boxes, and they are all fine.

[Katedotness1963]

My sons have been offered it. I'm unsure. Isn't safe sex enough?

[MedSchoolRat]

Where do you live, Katedot?

[Anatidae]

No, safer sex isnt enough. Safe sex is a bit of a misnomer - safer might be a better word for it. The virus can be transmitted via fingers/oral contact. Around 90% of adults have been exposed to one or more types. It’s highly infectious. Some people clear the viruses after infection but many don’t and they lurk in cells and reactivate sometimes, causing cancers in some subtypes, warts in others,

There are multiple types of hpv - a few cause warts and a few cause cancer. It’s the single biggest cause of cervical cancer, and a major cause of penile cancers and oral cancers as well. The vaccination is against the subtypes that cause warts and cancers,

I totally understand that it’s an issue that is uncomfortable to think about sometimes; thinking about your kids having sex is weird and I think that’s where a lot of the reluctance comes from.

I’m hoping that if we can get immunisation widespread, we will see cervical cancer rates plummet and a significant drop in oral and genital cancers too 👍

[MedSchoolRat]

Once in a while I go to pub with an oral-throat surgeon (as you do).
A lot of his regular reconstruction work comes from young people who have oral cancer... from giving oral (sex). They test positive for HPV & are non-smokers. I'd leap at chance to get my sons jabbed.

[Zhabr]

I decided against it when my DD was 12. However, now DD is 16 and chose to have it. She does not need my consent now and made all the appointments herself. No side effects, all went well.

[lettuceWrap]

Yes, we paid a lot of money to have our 3 teenage DS’s vaccinated with Gardasil as it’s not currently available to male teens despite HPV causing cancers in both sexes (it’s not just about cervical cancer).

We had no concerns about side effects and will be getting our 4th dc vaccinated in due course.

If it makes any difference I have a science degree (with some study of immunology) and DH has a medical degree, which perhaps makes it easier for us to read and digest analysis of the cost/benefits of having this and other vaccinations. We were convinced enough to pay about £350 per DS for the HPV vaccine, and we don’t throw that sort of money away without thinking about it!

[lettuceWrap]

Medschoolrat- indeed, my DH has seen enough young men (men in their mid 30s/40s) with HPV related head and neck cancers to be convinced the vaccine should be offered to ALL young people.
Rates of HPV related head and neck cancers are rising very sharply.

[ButterfliesAreWeird]

I had them. Not going to lie. They hurt. Your entire arm feels weird for a week or more. Heck I can still feel the remnants. But other than that I've never known anyone to have a bad reaction. You're protecting against an STD and cancer. It's better to be safe than dead imo.

[Katedotness1963]

Thanks for your answers. I think we'll talk to our boys and tell them it sounds like a good idea to have it done.

We live in Getmany but they see a US forces doctor so the jabs would be free.

[mathanxiety]

All 4 of my DDs had the entire course, and so did DS. We are in the US and it was offered to DS and covered under health insurance for him and the girls alike.

All vaccines carry risks, but they are very slight, and in my opinion, compared to the risk of the various cancers associated with HPV, well worth the DCs getting the shots. A cousin of mine went through the hell of cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment when her children - one with SN - were small. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

HPV is not transmitted in body fluids but by contact, so a condom isn't going to protect.