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Original poster

HPV vaccine uncertainties

123 replies

Vaccidilemma · 19/06/2023 07:36

My daughter (12) has been offered the vaccine at school in the coming weeks.

I have always been of the view that she should take the vaccine, she has had all of her childhood vaccines and I’ve seen evidence of significantly lower rates of cancer in younger 20-30 year olds.

Right so my issue now is that my partner is of the opposing view that he is concerned about the adverse effects and has been led to believe that it will lead to some quite nasty long term irreversible issues. I’ve had a look online and I’m also seeing anecdotal evidence of these issues so I’m also now uncertain. I realise that we are only going to hear about the people who have had problems and that these are more vocal, especially within the anti vax community.

I want to protect her against this horrible disease but what if she is one of the few who do experience problems?

has anyone delayed it for similar reasons?

has anyone paid privately when they are no longer eligible to receive it on the NHS? If so, how much and did you have any obstacles in being able to get it?

Does anyone regret their decision either way?

AiBU to ask?

thank you

OP posts:
Lcb123 · 19/06/2023 10:08

"I’ve had a look online and I’m also seeing anecdotal evidence of these issues so I’m also now uncertain" - what a stupid thing to do. What about all the cases with no issues, they're not going to post online. If you have genuine concerns, speak to your GP. Do you know how arduous it is to get a vaccine to market. It could save her life, and needs to be administered before sexual active.

Lcb123 · 19/06/2023 10:12

Elieza · 19/06/2023 08:50

My friends daughter was 23 when diagnosed with cervical cancer. Having had the jag at school at the appropriate time, whatever age that was, at that time.

She had a full hysterectomy and is now cancer free thank God. She can’t have children though and she’s so young it’s sad.

So I don’t know how good the vaccine actually is?

It could be that it was given when she was say 15 or something as it had just been authorised and she was already having sex and already had hpv.

Or she was predisposed to this anyway and that’s statistically expected. I don’t know.

I only know I would do a lot of research myself first before getting it. Like I would now for any vaccine. I’m not anti vax. Just anti-bullshit and pro making informed choices.

Sorry for your friends daughter. But no vaccine is 100% effective, that doesn't mean you should promote not getting it.

Neverinamonthofsundays · 19/06/2023 10:13

All three of mine have gotten it and no ill effects at all. Boys and girls get it in Ireland and they were all fine.

Highandlows · 19/06/2023 10:14

Think of the numbers of girls having it done each year. Also, it is now one doses only. We missed it because of Covid but did later and not problems so far.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 19/06/2023 10:16

There are always potential side effects from vaccines but I always do a risk v's benefit on any medication/vaccines given to my DC. So far, I have done all of them and the HPV vaccine will definitely be one I will be giving consent for.

I have had irregular cervical screenings resulting in a few biopsies and it isn't pleasant. Both my DC will be having it.

Neverinamonthofsundays · 19/06/2023 10:22

Highandlows · 19/06/2023 10:14

Think of the numbers of girls having it done each year. Also, it is now one doses only. We missed it because of Covid but did later and not problems so far.

And boys!

Fortherest · 19/06/2023 10:25

I haven’t vaccinated my dc with hpv. They have had all their other vaccinations but all have other medical conditions and we decided not to have the hpv vaccine.
They all have PoTs amongst other conditions and are severely affected and we spoke at length with their consultant and decided not to have it

towriteyoumustlive · 19/06/2023 10:27

Did you know that when they do smear tests now in the UK, they actually only screen for the HPV virus, as 97% of cervical cancer patients all had HPV!

If you test positive for HPV, then they will also then screen the cervical cells they scraped off.

I personally didn't bother with the Covid booster vaccines, and did not vaccinate my kids with the Covid vaccine (all 3 had previous tested positive, with either mind or no symptoms), but this vaccine in my opinion is a MUST.

peachescariad · 19/06/2023 10:28

Interesting that there has been a considerable drop in vaccine uptake according to the OHID public health stats - the benchmark for uptake is a minimum of 80% in order to have a significant impact on cervical cancer rates according to the BMJ.
Stats for 21/22 show uptake was only 69% for does 1 and 67% for dose 2.
Possibly a result of the pandemic, but uptake for 19/20 was 59% while 20/21 was 76%.

Leastsaidsoonestscrewed · 19/06/2023 10:29

sparkleice · 19/06/2023 08:22

I’ve had a look online and I’m also seeing anecdotal evidence of these issues so I’m also now uncertain

Well that's me convinced....

Dr Google all the way!

This. Honestly OP. Do.Not.Rely.On.The Internet. Vaccines work. Cancer is fucking horrible. Protect your child, and if your 'partner' doesn't like it he knows what he can do.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 19/06/2023 10:32

This is one I’d have paid for my ds to have if they hadn’t now included boys.

it’s so important this one and an absolute miracle vaccine. Imagine in the future being able to do away with routine smears.

VDisappointing · 19/06/2023 10:33

I delayed my son’s second dose not because of vaccine concern but due to unrelated medical condition. If you google it on nhs I believe she is eligible until late teens.
but I the reason I tried to make sure we did not wait too long it is transmissible by kissing so mouth cancer risk. I had cim 4 myself and since I did worry more about mouth cancer. Delay if you want for a bit longer but I would still go ahead at some point.

holaholiday · 19/06/2023 10:34

Highandlows · 19/06/2023 10:14

Think of the numbers of girls having it done each year. Also, it is now one doses only. We missed it because of Covid but did later and not problems so far.

i dont think this is true that its now 1 doss only....please can you confirm are you in the UK? as far as i was aware it's 2 doses if given before age 15 or 3 doses needed after 15?please see the NHS leaflet as you may need to chase your second dose The universal HPV immunisation programme (publishing.service.gov.uk)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1059900/UKHSA-HPV-vaccination-for-all-leaflet.pdf

MrsMiagi · 19/06/2023 10:40

EightChalk · 19/06/2023 08:57

"It's hard" seems like a major overstatement based on knowing ONE person who had adverse effects. Normalising vaccine hesitation is a really unhelpful thing to do.

Show quote history

I said its hard because as a parent I find it to be hard to be sure what to do for the best. I'd love to be able to trust everything all the time but I just don't. Drugs/medications that were thought of as fine have turned out not to be, with further research and time. Why would vaccines be any different? The beauty of science is that is is always evolving.
Unless you have seen vaccine injury first hand you can't say how it would affect your decision. However I do understand that it's rare.

ArcticSkewer · 19/06/2023 10:43

It's moving to one dose only from next year. Presumably that means people who only had one and were due the booster now won't be getting it.
There's a lot of data behind the change

justteanbiscuits · 19/06/2023 10:44

Diorama1 · 19/06/2023 08:57

I am not anti-vax but I did struggle with this one. There is a gentleman near us who's daughter has a chronic fatigue illness that started just after this vaccine. He is very intelligent, well respected, owns a multi million pound business and is absolutely convinced the vaccine caused the life changing illness.

I did loads of research and in the end decided to let her get it. All vaccines carry risks and I felt the benefits outweighed the risks.

However, my DS was offered it last year and he didnt get it. Again from carrying out research, there were far less benefits to him (rare penile cancer that is very treatable). I got a call from the health service trying to convince me to change my mind and warning me of the cost of doing it privately.
It isn't routinely offered to boys in most countries in my understanding.

and mouth and anal cancers. And also, being vaccinated, would reduce the risk of him passing it to females.

Neverinamonthofsundays · 19/06/2023 10:44

My youngest two only got one dose. They got it first last September and the one for April was cancelled as it is now only one.

NImumconfused · 19/06/2023 10:45

I believe it's due to change to one dose next school year.

The vaccine protects against about 8 strains of high risk HPV, which cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases, but there are still strains that aren't included in the vaccine that may more rarely cause cancer.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 19/06/2023 10:45

ArcticSkewer · 19/06/2023 10:40

Show quote history

That was certainly true when my DDs had it. We were living abroad and one DD missed the first jab once we came back as she was over the start age. So younger had two jabs and she had to have three jabs. That was a while ago though so maybe it’s a different jab now? Also, as per the OPs question - as we weren’t sure of the NHS would let us do it as we weren’t in the country at the right time (they did in the end) we looked in to doing it privately and it was around £900.00 then, again that may also be different now.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 19/06/2023 10:45

Ah one dose…crossed post !

IJustHadToLookHavingReadTheBook · 19/06/2023 10:51

We are so lucky to have this vaccination, make sure your daughter has it. I wish it had been available when I was that age and as a teacher I always tell girls who are nervous of it what a miracle it seems like to my generation (the one above the first girls who had it in 2008ish). Don't fall for anti vax propaganda.

NewLeafAgain · 19/06/2023 11:07

My eldest unfortunately did have severe, life altering reaction to the HPV vaccine and 8 years on is still suffering. It is a difficult life for her.
I am not antivax. Complications obviously can happen with any vaccine but are very rare, and my younger kids will most likely get the HPV vaccine when the time comes. It does make me a bit nervous though!

holaholiday · 19/06/2023 11:11

ArcticSkewer · 19/06/2023 10:43

It's moving to one dose only from next year. Presumably that means people who only had one and were due the booster now won't be getting it.
There's a lot of data behind the change

Thanks for that @ArcticSkewer I’ve found a more recent update from may from the Welsh health circular where it states they are moving to the 1 dose for under 25s from sept 2023 (still 2 dose programme till then)…although I note it’s off label. And of course being the blinking UK they may be introducing it at different times for all the home nations. I just hope they chase people to get it, we had an arse of a time trying to get a catch up dose after missing it due to Covid.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 19/06/2023 11:18

Listen to More or Less from last week - 87% reduction in cervical cancers in those vaccinated. AND a huge proportion of throat cancers are driven by HPV - a growing issue in those of us too old to have had the jab but young enough to have experienced a lot of oral sex in our lifetimes. They are hoping that for our kids' generation incidence of throat cancer will reduce considerably too.