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Original poster

Vaccination against cervical cancer/HPV

344 replies

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 09:32

This vaccination protects against a sexually transmitted virus which can lead to cancer and other problems. Does anyone know why is it recommended as standard for children from 11 years, is it because there is perceived realistic risk of sexual contact occuring from this age?

OP posts:
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Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:16

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:14

As does this one.

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Pointless question on your part then?

OP posts:
Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:15

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:13

The reduced need for smear tests as well. What a glorious time to be alive for them.

that said I’m aware they need to tweak smear tests timings as they are missing cancers not caused by HPV

There is no reduced need for smear tests. Women need to continue having smear tests. I am just pointing this out because I don't want people to not have smear tests because of misinformation. Have smear tests!

OP posts:
FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:14

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:14

All of them, but in relation to all the others offered to DC it all made perfect sense.

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As does this one.

Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:14

JDM625 · 19/05/2025 10:11

OP- Do you ask WHY other vaccines are given at specific ages, or just the HPV one?

All of them, but in relation to all the others offered to DC it all made perfect sense.

OP posts:
FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:13

The reduced need for smear tests as well. What a glorious time to be alive for them.

that said I’m aware they need to tweak smear tests timings as they are missing cancers not caused by HPV

HauntedBungalow · 19/05/2025 10:13

OP the vaccine is a public health initiative, not a behaviour modification tool. If you want to discourage teenagers from having sex, you could always wave a bible at them or something.

Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:13

CorrectionCentre · 19/05/2025 10:09

At age 11 it assumed that the vast majority of children are not sexually active therefore the greatest chance of getting the vast majority of children vaccinated before they are at risk. For the vast majority of children that will be a number of years after 11. But for a small but vulnerable minority it will be closer to 11.
Setting the age at 11 does not mean that this is the age at which most children become sexually active.
It is your interpretation that the age of vaccination relates to an expectation of sexual activity for most that is really surprising posters. It's not a logical assumption to make.

Edited

It is a sexually transmitted virus. So yes, it is a logical connection/assumption. Most sites which give information about the vaccine make the point that the vaccination does not increase risk of increasing sexual activity in tweens/young teens because that has been the concern raised - based on previous similar initiatives from around 1995 inwards eg the VD scare actually increased levels of VD.

OP posts:
JDM625 · 19/05/2025 10:11

OP- Do you ask WHY other vaccines are given at specific ages, or just the HPV one?

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:11

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:09

No but the initiatives are not happening.

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Completely unrelated to the HPV vaccine being given.

maybe take that up with the school? I’ve got involved with dcs school as there’s a massive lack of provision in supporting the young people to be safe.

TelephoneWires · 19/05/2025 10:11

The thing is, they want to vaccinate everybody at the same age because that is administratively much easier. They don’t want to miss anyone who might be sexually active at the age of 12 or 13. Why not just get it done at 11? It’s not going to encourage them to start having sex. They all just have the vaccine and then hopefully none of them will get cervical cancer in later life. If you don’t want your child to be vaccinated at that age, you can arrange for it to happen just before they start to be sexually active. But that is not going be easy to predict.

HairsprayBabe · 19/05/2025 10:10

@SnakesAndArrows Sadly I don't think they have access to google or they wouldn't be posting such nonsense questions here...

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/05/2025 10:10

It's a similar principle to when Rubella vaccines were given to 11 year old girls prior to MMR being rolled out - they're not going to be having babies at that age, but vaccinating at that time means that when they become sexually active at some point in the future, they are already protected against it.

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:09

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:07

I don't think it is about wiping out the virus. More about giving protection.

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it is

its the cause and indicated in so many cancers

Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:09

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:07

it’s not either or

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No but the initiatives are not happening.

OP posts:
CorrectionCentre · 19/05/2025 10:09

At age 11 it assumed that the vast majority of children are not sexually active therefore the greatest chance of getting the vast majority of children vaccinated before they are at risk. For the vast majority of children that will be a number of years after 11. But for a small but vulnerable minority it will be closer to 11.
Setting the age at 11 does not mean that this is the age at which most children become sexually active.
It is your interpretation that the age of vaccination relates to an expectation of sexual activity for most that is really surprising posters. It's not a logical assumption to make.

SnakesAndArrows · 19/05/2025 10:08

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:07

I don't think it is about wiping out the virus. More about giving protection.

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Please Google “herd immunity” and also “smallpox”.

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:08

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:05

This is it. Most people I knew started having sex at university. I am not kidding! There are a few people in dc's class who say they have had sex - and there have been no initiatives to try to stop that. I think more and better initiatives to stop young teens have sex are as necessary as creating vaccines.

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Well good for them
they will still be covered by having it early

so will the ones that have sex earlier

SnakesAndArrows · 19/05/2025 10:08

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:02

Okay, I will adapt my wording as a few posters are getting confused by it - 11 is seen as the age JUST BEFORE children are going to start being sexually active? Except stats shown above indicated that around 20 percent of 14 year olds are sexually active. So recommending vacc for most children at 11 is still slightly odd. Although there is a second jab given, presumably in fact more jabs are going to be needed throughout life, it isn't 2 jabs cover for life?

You asked whether the age at which the vaccination is set implies that “the majority” will become sexually active shortly after being 11.

Everyone else is saying no, that is not what is implied, and to infer that it does is illogical.

Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:07

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:06

its about wiping out the virus.
some children won’t be able to have it some won’t have it. Chuck in the 20% you’ve missed and that’s a big percentage still capable of carrying, transmitting and contracting.

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I don't think it is about wiping out the virus. More about giving protection.

OP posts:
MatildaMovesMountains · 19/05/2025 10:07

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:06

Because you are rude too, perhaps, and think that being rude is perfectly fine and normal. I do know people like you - I am not suggesting you are alone.

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Better to be rude than ... well, I won't spell it out. But people can tell.

FatherFrosty · 19/05/2025 10:07

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:05

This is it. Most people I knew started having sex at university. I am not kidding! There are a few people in dc's class who say they have had sex - and there have been no initiatives to try to stop that. I think more and better initiatives to stop young teens have sex are as necessary as creating vaccines.

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it’s not either or

MatildaMovesMountains · 19/05/2025 10:07

Not all sex is consensual. But you know that, right?

Original poster
nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:06

MatildaMovesMountains · 19/05/2025 10:05

Actually I find their rudeness entirely appropriate in this context.

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Because you are rude too, perhaps, and think that being rude is perfectly fine and normal. I do know people like you - I am not suggesting you are alone.

OP posts:
HairsprayBabe · 19/05/2025 10:06

Where are you getting 11 from> The HPV vaccine is given in year 8 when children are 12 and13.

22% of them will likely be sexually active by 14 so the timing of the vaccine makes total sense.

What is your actual problem here?

MatildaMovesMountains · 19/05/2025 10:06

nooshoo · 19/05/2025 10:05

This is it. Most people I knew started having sex at university. I am not kidding! There are a few people in dc's class who say they have had sex - and there have been no initiatives to try to stop that. I think more and better initiatives to stop young teens have sex are as necessary as creating vaccines.

Show quote history

Ahahahahahahahahhhhhhh