not letting my 13-year old DD have the cervical cancer jab?

[IloveJudgeJudy]

It's now crunch time. I have a letter and form from school that I have to sign to allow my 13-year old DD have the three cervical cancer jabs. The form HAS TO be in tomorrow, one way or the other.

Last year when this vaccination came in I was all for it. BUT I have been reading up a bit more about it and have read that it only covers 70% of cervical cancers, far fewer people are affected by cervical cancers than by, for example, lung cancer or heart disease. I have also read, but I am not sure how true it is, that some girls have had quite severe adverse reactions to the vaccination.

So, AIBU to stop my daughter having these jabs?

Riven you are obviously against the vaccine for your own personal reasons. I don't know what they are, as I didn't understand your other comment about reading up on other vaccines. I am sorry if- and this is me assuming- you have a child who was damaged by a vaccine, but that doesn't mean that no -one else should have vaccinations.

I expect you can get men tested for HPV if you are willing to pay- unless it is one test offered at a GU clinic.

It is slightly different through, isn't it? The odds are that with HIV you are likely to develop AIDs for which there is no cure yet- the likelihood of developing CC is totally different, and it can be caught in the early stages and cured.

Oh no... YABU. Your poor DD. She has an opportunity we never had. So many people die of cervical cancer and she's got the chance to avoid that.

The 'scare' the other week was totally unrelated to the jab.

What does your DD think? If I were a teenager I would absolutely want to have it.

I know a woman in her 30s who died from cervical cancer (despite regular smears and no history of promiscuity). I honestly think refusing this vaccination is crazy.

my dd aged 14 had it last week, she chose to, we discussed it and i supported her totally.

yes YABVU

Oh, I completely understand your dilemma on this. My Yr8 daughter hasn't had it. And she's had every other vaccine. I just couldn't feel comfortable about saying yes to something which I don't feel I've had time to research and absorb properly. It's not a case of being mad to refuse to be vaccinated against cancer; of course anyone would. But this jab feels rushed. It may not be (?) but that's how it feels. She can still have it free until she's 18 anyway. I know it has to be before she's sexually active but you've still got some time to think a bit more.

I'm not so sure a 12/13 year old girl could really research this subject until she's satisfied herself that she feels comfortable having it??

Well, discussing it goes without saying. But when you're given the letter about it on teh first day back in Sept to make a decision within the first week, it's tricky. Especially since "everyone else" is having it.

The "rushed" bit relates to the newness of the vaccine and how confident I can feel that it is safe. How long will it be effective for? Why (I think) is the UK using a different vaccine too rest of Europe? etc

Horrible, hate making decisions about vaccines = I blame mumsnet for that

At the risk of becoming a posting links bore

For those people concerned that the vaccine has been 'rushed', research was being carried out at least 7 years ago :

www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/cervical-cancer-vaccine1102

sorry if this has already been said but doesn't it only cover you for 5 years - not a lifetime?

i completely understand that one HAS to get the jab before sexual activity for it to me MOST effective and i am sure that most of our teenagers won't tell us when they are shagging.

however this only covers them until 18.

dd left school before this was introduced ( she left last year) and i knew that she wouldn't be caught in time for the catch up programme.

i paid for her to have it privately and i am glad i did. she was 15 and it should last her until she is 20 ( if that information is correct)

which i think is a better period of time to cover her for IYSWIM.

Custardo - www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV/About_the_HPV_vaccine/How_long_does_protection_last_for

And 5 years from now, loads more trials will have been carried out and further developments made.

Any skin contact with infected genitals can result in infection not just through penetration. It can also be caught through oral sex which increases the risk of throat cancer.

Anything that prevents any kind of cancer is worth its weight in gold. Too many women have already died because this jab wasnt available,cancer isnt selective,anybody will do . My dd1 is 16 and she is having the jab whether she likes it or not.

Surely it's better to prevent cancer than than be unlucky enough to contract the HPV virus, develop cancer and then have to go through treatment?

I know that cervical cancer has a good treatment outcome, especially if caught early, but surely prevention is better than cure?

I still think that if you aren't sure, then you would not be unreasonable to not sign the consent form at this point, but you should get advice from reputable sources to make an informed decision. My DD is only 2, but I would rather she had the vaccine than not.

sign the form

just sign it

please

YANBU, for all the reasons given here already. Personally I wouldn't touch this vaccine with a bargepole.

My 14yr old DD refused it,i told her she could have it if she wanted.She researched it and then refused it.I will see how she feels in a couple of years.
DD2 reacts very badly to vaccines,she faints,has seizures and injection site swells up and stays that way for monthes.So not sure what to do about her,she is almost 12.

YABU - It's for your daughter, not you.

HPV causes not only cervical cancer (routinely tested for and hence prevented) but also oral cancer and anal cancer (not prevented at all). So yes, I will have DD vaccinated.

Not when she is 9, though.

YANBU for being concerned.

But please think about it some more.

My DD would have had it. But she died when she was 14 from cancer. Not one that you could innoculate against. It was 'curable' though.

She still died. It took two years.

If there is anything you can do to prevent your family going through that - do it.

DD1 (21) investigated and declined and I certainly wont be getting DD2 vaccinated - no chance
and just to add more info to the mix.. www.wddty.com/hpv-teenage-vaccine-is-causing-death-and-injury.html